Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images

The Capitals opened their second set of back-to-backs this season tonight visiting Little Caesars Arena in Detroit for the first time. After two straight regulation losses and a 1-3-1 record, the Capitals needed this game and got the dub 4-3 in overtime off an Alex Ovechkin overtime winner. Especially since they were tied with the Red Wings, who also lost its past two games, for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference standings. The Caps switched Andre Burakovsky and Tom Wilson in an effort to get the offense going again after it scored two goals in the past two games. 

#Caps lines tonight at Little Caesars Arena: 43-19-77, 8-92-13, 10-20-65, 25-83-39. Defense: 29-74, 44-22, 9-4. Holtby vs Mrazek. #CapsWings

— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) October 20, 2017

First Period

Scoring: Nada. Caps outshot the Wings 14-13 in a fairly lively opening period.

The Good: Evgeny Kuznetsov had a dazzling shift in which he almost took the lead for Washington. Wings goalie Petr Mrazek stopped his great opportunity, unfortunately. The Capitals had 14 shots, 3 of which belonged to Kuznetsov, and won most of the faceoffs in the offensive zone. The Capitals only gave away the puck 3 times, while leading in takeaways 2-0.

Look at those moves 😮😮😮 pic.twitter.com/iWn5QKNAWz

— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) October 21, 2017

The Bad: The Capitals took two penalties in the first period: a tripping call against Devante Smith-Pelly and another against Madison Bowey.

The Ugly: While the Capitals had 14 shots of their own, they also allowed 13 shots against.

Second Period

Scoring: Detroit’s Daren Helm scored a short-handed goal after a turnover by Alex Ovechkin to make it 1-0 Red Wings 4:31 into the period.

Andre Burakovsky finally scored with 49.1 seconds left in the period with a laser from the top of the left circle to tie the game at 1. Dmitry Orlov fed Burakovsky and he wired it to draw even heading into to the 3rd period.

Burkie snipes his first of the season. #CapsWings pic.twitter.com/cT8pZuTEfH

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 21, 2017

The Good: Andre Burakovsky scored the first of the season and is shooting more tonight, with three shots through two periods. The Caps led in shot 25-21 and only gave the puck away four times. Orlov and Tom Wilson drew two penalties in the second period.

The Bad: The Capitals were 0 for 3 on the power play going into the third period, with just 5 shots during 6 minutes on the man advantage.

The Ugly: Daren Helm scored a short-handed goal, the third the Capitals have given up this season, after a turnover by Alex Ovechkin.

Third Period

Scoring: Jay Beagle scored his first goal of the season in his 400th game on a short-handed breakaway after Alex Chiasson tipped a pass. The goal came 1:25 into the period and gave the Capitals their first lead in over 160 minutes of play.

Beags to the rescue! 🐶 #CapsWings #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/oECncxo2jv

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 21, 2017

Tomas Tatar tied it less than five minutes later off a redirection of Dylan Larkin’s shot. Tatar deflected it at the top of the left dot with 14:36 left to tie the game at 2 apiece. Former Capital Mike Green picked up his 9th assist of the year.

Tatar struck again with 7:15 left on the power play. Henrik Zetterberg fed Tatar wide open in the slot to give Detroit the 3-2 lead.

T.J. Oshie tied the game at 3 with 1:01 left on the power play off a nice tic-tac-toe passing play with Burakovsky and Kuznetsov to send the game to overtime. The Caps had pulled Braden Holtby and had a 6 on 4 advantage on the Oshie goal.

Power play. Goalie pulled. @tjoshie77 converts. #CapsWings #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/Hw789ayHXt

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 21, 2017

The Good: Beagle’s shorty gave the Caps a much-needed boost, and Oshie’s clutch goal guaranteed the Caps a point heading to OT.

The Bad: The Capitals defense struggled again, allowing two goals and 12 shots in the 3rd period.

The Ugly: Penalties, penalties, and more penalties. Brooks Orpik got called for hooking at 7:04 and John Carlson for delay of game at 11:12, when Tatar scored. This has to stop soon, especially with a depleted defense.

Alex Ovechkin drew a penalty 1:08 into overtime. Trevor Daley went to the box for tripping. With the man advantage, Ovechkin scored his 10th goal of the season on a bullet from the point. Backstrom set up Ovechkin and he zipped one past Mrazek for a 4-3 Caps victory. The Capitals snapped their two-game losing streak. With the goal, Ovechkin became the all-time NHL leader in overtime goals.

Most. OT. Goals. Ever. @ovi8 #CapsWings #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/nim0AWgW4S

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 21, 2017

Game Stats:

Shots:                                Capitals – 41                Red Wings – 37

Hits:                                  Capitals – 18                Red Wings – 21

Blocked Shots:                Capitals – 15                 Red Wings – 17

Power Play:                     Capitals – 2/5               Red Wings – 1/5

Up Next: The Capitals come back to town tomorrow night as they take on the Florida Panthers tomorrow at Capital One Arena. The Panthers were in action tonight against the Pittsburgh Penguins at home and lost 4-3, so expect them to be tired. The Panthers have a 2-4-0 record with Jonathan Huberdeau, Nick Bjugstad, and Evgeny Dadonov leading the way. The Capitals wrap up their second set of back-to-backs and play their last game before a Western Canada road trip next week.

By Harrison Brown