Varlamov blanks Sabres 2-0, Ovechkin ejected

WASHINGTON — Semyon Varlamov made 25 saves for his first regular-season shutout, Alex Ovechkin scored before drawing a third-period ejection and the Washington Capitals beat the Buffalo Sabres 2-0 Friday night.

Eric Fehr also scored for the Capitals, who had lost four of five. Varlamov, who had two shutouts in the playoffs last spring against the New York Rangers, wasn’t severely tested until the third period, when Ovechkin’s absence put Washington at a decided disadvantage .

Ovechkin drew a major for boarding and a game misconduct 3:38 into the third period when he ran Buffalo’s Patrick Kaleta into the boards opposite the benches. It was the second career ejection for Ovechkin, and both have come against Buffalo at Verizon Center. The other was Dec. 2, 2006, when he checked Daniel Briere from behind.