Sabres Classics: Pyatt's hat trick vs. Washington

When we think back on the 2005-06 Buffalo Sabres, we think of a high-flying team full of young stars who emerged from the lockout and captured the city's imagination. We remember where we were for playoff nail biters. We think of "Scary Good."
None of this was quite so clear in November 2005. The Sabres had gone 6-2 to start the season but had lost seven of 10 games entering their meeting with the Washington Capitals on Nov. 17.
It's here where we begin our run of games from the 2005-06 season on "Sabres Classics." The game airs Monday at 8 p.m. on MSG.

The Sabres beat the Capitals, 8-5, to improve to 10-9-0 and never looked back. They only lost two of their next 16 games, setting the tone for what would end as a 110-point season.
"We have to get back to playing like we did in the beginning of the season, and keep working hard," defenseman Brian Campbell told the Associated Press after the game.
It was Campbell who opened the scoring just 37 seconds into the contest, the first of two goals he'd score that night. Chris Clark tied the game for the Capitals less than four minutes later, but the Sabres fired back with five straight goals - including the first two of the season from 24-year-old forward Taylor Pyatt.
Washington made a push with three goals late in the second period - including the first in Buffalo for a young winger named Alexander Ovechkin, who increased his lead in the rookie scoring race - but Pyatt completed his hat trick to snuff out any hopes of a comeback late in the third.
"The one thing I've learned from my first few years in the league is that there are a lot of ups and downs in the season," Pyatt told the AP. "Sometimes you think it's never going to come, but it sure does feel good when it does happen."
For the 2005-06 Sabres, there would be plenty of ups from there.