Sports

Andre Burakovsky's goal holds up, Capitals beat Sabres 1-0 in coach Barry Trotz's debut

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby (70) deflects a shot with Buffalo Sabres left wing Vaclav Karabacek (74) nearby, in the second period of a preseason NHL hockey game, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) (The Associated Press)

Buffalo Sabres left wing Vaclav Karabacek (74) goes over Washington Capitals left wing Nathan Walker (79) in the third period of a preseason NHL hockey game, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014, in Washington. The Capitals won 1-0. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) (The Associated Press)

Andre Burakovsky scored in the first period, and Braden Holtby and Pheonix Copley combined for a shutout in the Washington Capitals' 1-0 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday night in the exhibition opener for both teams.

Washington coach Barry Trotz won in his first game with the team. He mixed veterans — including Holtby and Alex Ovechkin — with prospects, while Buffalo's Ted Nolan used a relatively inexperienced lineup.

Copley stopped six shots in the first period, and Holtby made 19 saves over the final 40 minutes. Nathan Lieuwen made 24 saves for the Sabres.

Burakovsky scored with 6:46 left in the third. The 2013 first-round pick took a pass from Jason Chimera in the right circle and beat Lieuwen.