WASHINGTON -- The Washington Capitals explosive offense seems to be rounding into form, and on Friday theyll try to finish their longest homestand of the season on a positive note against a Buffalo Sabres squad inching toward the .500 mark.Alexander Ovechkin had his 16th career hat trick in a 4-3 win over the St, Louis Blues on Wednesday, but all parties agreed that it was Evgeny Kuznetsov that helped make a big difference for the Capitals offense.I hope hes back on his game and he has the confidence, Ovechkin said of his fellow countryman. It helps us when he plays well.Kuznetsov had gotten off to a slow start this season, but his goal and assist against the Blues gave him his second multi-point game of the year, and the 24-year-olds skill in the offensive zone will help boost Washingtons offensive attack. Kuznetsov now has three goals this season after leading Washington with 20 tallies last year.I thought (Kuznetsov) was dynamic -- he was really skating, Capitals coach Barry Trotz said after Washingtons win. That was the (Kuznetsov) that we all see that he can be. Hes been getting better and better. You can see he was going to have a breakout sooner or later as long as he stayed with the program, and he has.The Sabres are coming off a hard-fought, 2-1 shootout loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday, but got some good news in the return of center Ryan OReilly, who rejoined the teams top line. He played 22:48 in his return, but may have also showed some rust after missing five games due to an oblique injury.I think at time he was a little extended in his energy level, Sabres coach Dan Bylsma told NHL.com after Wednesdays loss. Hes a great player, but he extended himself in a couple shifts and got stuck out there in the second, one of those long shifts and then the overtime he got stuck out again.The Sabres (7-8-5) have stressed getting back to even on the season, and will have another crack at it against the Capitals, who have been one of the top home teams this season at 7-3-0.It is a big goal of ours to get back to that .500 mark, but you come out and have a good effort against Washington and you consider it a really good week, Sabres captain Brian Gionta told reporters after Wednesdays game.Buffalos goalies, Robin Lehner and Anders Nilsson, have combined for a .930 save percentage, good enough for second in the league. Washington netminder Braden Holtby has posted a 9-3-2 mark in his last 14 games dating back to last season, but said that its important that the Capitals play the full 60 minutes after giving up a couple of late goals against the Blues.The frustrating thing is that weve done it a few times this year, he said. Once it happens a few times, it becomes a habit. We have to address it and clamp down in third periods. Wholesale Authentic Jerseys .R. Smith realized how easily basketball can be taken from him, and he wasnt going to take his place in the NBA for granted anymore. Wholesale Jerseys Online . In the lead up - which seemed to begin the moment Mike Geiger blew the whistle in Houston last Thursday night - the Impact rumour mill went into overdrive. The speculation went into meltdown mode, of the golden nugget variety. http://www.cheapsjerseys.com/ . What general manager Dave Nonis called "short and productive" negotiations ended with Kessel signing a US$64-million, eight-year contract on Tuesday. Cheap Authentic Cam Newton Super Bowl Womens Jersey .Y. - General manager Billy King says the Brooklyn Nets are looking to add a big man and confirmed the team worked out centre Jason Collins, who would become the first openly gay active NBA player if signed. Cheap NFL Jerseys China . Galatasaray said in a statement on its website Monday that Mancini signed a three-year contract and will be paid 3.5 million euros for the upcoming season, with his salary upped to 4. ASHEVILLE, N.C. -- Ahmad Thomas scored 20 points, MaCio Teague had 10 and the game-winning free throws, and UNC-Asheville held off Western Carolina 59-57 to win its fifth straight game on Saturday in the 50th edition of the Mountain Rivalry.Trailing 24-22 at halftime, Western Carolinas Elijah Pughsley hit a jumper and two free throws to put the Catamounts up 54-53 with 3:50 left. Thomas layup put the Bulldogs on top 56-54 and Teagues two free throws made it 58-56 with 51 seconds to go.Pughsley made one of two free throwws to pull the Catamounts to 58-57, and then Alec Wunks free throw sealed it for the Bulldogs.dddddddddddd Western Carolinas Deriece Parks missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.Will Weeks scored 13 points and Wunk finished with 11 for the Bulldogs (8-3), who made 20 of 35 free throws to the Catamounts 11 of 12.Parks scored career highs with 19 points and four 3-pointers for Western Carolina (3-7). ' ' '