Photo: @Capitals

The Washington Capitals beat the San Jose Sharks 5-4 (OT) Sunday afternoon at Capital One Arena. The win improves the Capitals record to 29-9-5 (63 points) on the season.

After a scoreless first frame, the Sharks Evander Kane would score a hat trick in the middle frame and Nic Dowd and Jakub Vrana would dent the twine for the Capitals for a 3-2 Sharks lead at the second intermission. San Jose would add an empty net goal late in the third period, but Jakub Vrana would answer with a 6-on-5 goal just 13 seconds later to make it 4-3. T.J. Oshie would score to tie the game with 15 seconds left in regulation, sending the game to overtime. Lars Eller would score the game winner in overtime.

GAME STATS

• NHL box score
• Natural Stat Trick
• Money Puck
• Evolving Hockey
• Game Stat Card

STARTERS
Braden Holtby (17-7-0-4, 2.99 GAA, .902 sv%) started between the pipes for Washington. Martin Jones (13-15-0-1, 3.13 GAA, .893 sv%) got the start in goal for visiting San Jose. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Capitals:

#Caps‘ lines vs. Sharks:
8-Ovechkin, 19-Backstrom, 43-Wilson
13-Vrana, 92-Kuznetsov, 77-Oshie
62-Hagelin, 20-Eller, 14-Panik
28-Leipsic, 26-Dowd, 21-Hathaway

Defensemen
6-Kempny, 74-Carlson
9-Orlov, 3-Jensen
34-Siegenthaler, 33-Gudas

Holtby vs. Jones. #CapsSharks

— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) January 5, 2020

Scratches: Travis Boyd, Christian Djoos.

FIRST PERIOD
A sleepy start to this one following the 12:30 pm puck drop. San Jose led in shots on goal 9-5 after 13 minutes of play.

The first period would ultimately go scoreless. San Jose led in shots 12-10. The Sharks led in shot attempts 24-19 in the first frame. There were no power plays in the first period.

SECOND PERIOD
The Sharks would pot the game’s first tally on a power play goal from Evander Kane (16) at 6:25 of the middle frame.

But the Capitals would quickly answer. Nic Dowd would score the Capitals first goal of the game just 1:04 later at 7:29 of the second period. Brendan Leipsic (7) and Garnet Hathaway (7) had the helpers.

FIRST GOAL AS DADDY DOWDER! pic.twitter.com/JU5PD4C0yb

— Washington ☃️ Capitals (@Capitals) January 5, 2020

The Sharks would regain the lead with a goal from Evander Kane (17), his second of the game, at 10:06 of the second period, making it 2-1. Kane had just left the penalty box on the rush.

Evander Kane would complete the second period hat trick with a power play goal at 16:49 of the period.

But the Capitals would quickly answer with a goal from Jakub Vrana at 18:42 of the second period, making it 3-2. T.J. Oshie (15) had the lone assist.

Top shelf 🐍 pic.twitter.com/DreKdzmesD

— Washington ☃️ Capitals (@Capitals) January 5, 2020

Evgeny Kuznetsov had a clean breakaway, and looked to tie the score late in the frame, but failed on an attempted between-the-legs shot.

The frame would conclude with the Capitals trailing 3-2. The Capitals led in shots on goal 12-11 for the middle frame with the Sharks leading 24-22 after two periods.

The Sharks led in shot attempts 16-14 in the second period and led 40-33 after two periods. San Jose was 2 for 2 and the Capitals 0 for 1 on the power play after two periods.

THIRD PERIOD
The final frame would go scoreless for most of the period. The Sharks added an empty net goal late to stretch their lead to 4-2, but Jakub Vrana would answer with a 6-on-5 tally just 13 seconds later at 19:13 to make it 4-3.

T.J. Oshie would then tie the game with 15 seconds left in regulation.

IT AIN’T OVA TIL IT’S OVA pic.twitter.com/Ct2Nb0Lcg3

— Washington ☃️ Capitals (@Capitals) January 5, 2020

OVERTIME
The Capitals would win it in overtime with a goal from Lars Eller.

AND THAT’S HOW YOU COME BACK FOLKS pic.twitter.com/ZyNJGn1nun

— Washington ☃️ Capitals (@Capitals) January 5, 2020

The Capitals are back on the ice on Tuesday when they host the Ottawa Senators. Puck drop is just after 7:00 p.m.

SHAVINGS

• Jakub Vrana has 17 goals this season at even strength, tied with Leon Draisaitl and Nathan MacKinnon for the fourth most in the NHL.
• Nic Dowd ties the game 1-1 with his fifth goal of the season. Brendan Leipsic and Garnet Hathaway recorded the assists. It’s the ninth goal this season that trio has produced at five-on-five, and they now have a 69.2 goals-for percentage at five-on-five.

SCENES FROM THE DISTRICT

What a freakin finish. #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/C1Bui9ZQGx

— Washington ☃️ Capitals (@Capitals) January 5, 2020

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