WASHINGTON (AP) - Ryan Miller made 29 saves, Thomas Vanek scored twice and the Buffalo Sabres blanked the Washington Capitals 4-0 Wednesday night.

Washington wing Alexander Ovechkin, the top pick in the 2004 entry draft, was a non-factor in his home debut. Ovechkin took a holding penalty 26 seconds into the exhibition game and was denied on his only scoring chance of the night, a power-play shot on the doorstep with 5:56 left in the third period.

Rory Fitzpatrick and Maxim Afinogenov also scored for the Sabres. Jay McKee had two assists.

The Capitals remained winless in three preseason games and were shut out for the second time. Washington killed off nine of 10 Buffalo power plays, but was 0-for-6 on the man advantage

Buffalo took a 1-0 lead 6:19 into the game when Fitzpatrick, though tied up at the right post by Washington's Brian Willsie, knocked a cross-crease pass from Chris Drury past goaltender Olaf Kolzig.

Vanek tallied twice in a 4:04 span late in the second period to extend the lead to 3-0.

At 15:04, he pushed in a centering pass from J.P. Dumont from the top of the crease, giving the Sabres a power-play goal after eight opportunities. Vanek notched his team-high fourth preseason goal at 19:09, again scoring from in front of the net on a play that withstood a video review.

Afinogenov scored off a pass from Derek Roy 5:29 into the third period.