Photo: John McCreary/NHLI via Getty Images

The Washington Capitals overcame a 2-0 third-period deficit to defeat the Ottawa Senators by a score of 3-2 in overtime at Capital One Arena on Saturday night. The point lifted the Capitals into a tie with the Pittsburgh Penguins (who have two games in hand), three points behind the New York Rangers (both teams have played 42 games) for first place in the Metropolitan Division, and one behind Carolina Hurricanes (four games in hand) for second. Goaltender Vitek Vanecek made 20 saves in the victory.

Capitals’ Lines vs. Senators

Graphic: @Capitals

Left-wing Conor Sheary returned after missing three games in COVID-19 protocol and replaced Axel Jonsson-Fjallby. Defenseman Justin Schultz took Nick Jensen’s spot while Dennis Cholowski also drew in.

Scratched: RW Daniel Sprong

COVID-19 Protocol: RHD John Carlson (missed fourth straight game), LW Conor Sheary (fifth)

Injured: Jensen (upper-body, first), RW T.J. Oshie (lower-body, fourth), LW Anthony Mantha (shoulder, 32nd)

Suspended: LHD Dmitry Orlov (last of two games)

First Period

Defenseman Thomas Chabot blasted a one-timer at the top and beat Vanecek high-glove through a screen after getting a feed by right-wing Austin Watson at the half-wall to open the scoring for Ottawa 82 seconds in.

The Capitals led 5-3 in shots, 15-13 in hits, and won 71% of the faceoffs through one.

The Senators led 4-1 in takeaways after 20 minutes.

Each team recorded five blocked shots, a giveaway, and failed to score on a power play in the period.

Second Period

While falling down, former Capitals’ left-wing Zach Sanford one timed a feed feed by right-wing Alex Formenton from the goal-line at the right dot to extend the Senators’ lead to 2-0 at 6:07.

The Capitals led 21-13 in shots (including 16-10 in the second), 27-22 in hits, won 72% of the faceoffs, and failed to take advantage of two power plays through 40 minutes.

The Senators led 11-9 in blocked shots, 8-3 in takeaways, had four giveaways while the Capitals were credited with five, and were held scoreless on their lone man advantage in the first two periods.

Third Period

Captain Alex Ovechkin slammed in a feed by defenseman Trevor Van Riemsdyk from behind the net at the right post to the glove-side of goaltender Matt Murray 1:39 into the third. Center Evgeny Kuznetsov recorded an assist on Ovechkin’s goal, and he now has 13 points (five goals) in his last 13 games.

7⃣5⃣8⃣‼️#CapsSens | #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/WphjgiTfFM

— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) January 23, 2022

Ovechkin struck again all alone in front of Murray after getting a feed from center Nicklas Backstrom from behind the net to tie it at 9:43. It marked his league-leading 29th goal of the season. Four of Backstrom’s six assists this season have been on goals scored by Ovechkin.

Tie game!@JoeBpXp knew Ovi scored before the refs!! #CapsSens | #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/ftki0KdrQq

— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) January 23, 2022

The Capitals led 31-22 in shots (including 10-9 in the third), 33-26 in hits, won 72% of the faceoffs.

The Senators led 17-16 in blocked shots, 13-7 in takeaways, and had four giveaways while the Capitals were credited with eight.

Each team failed to score on two power plays.

Overtime

Backstrom roofed one on the backhand from a sharp angle after stealing the puck from Senators defenseman Artem Zub all alone in front of Murray to win it 1:13 into overtime.

Nicklas Backstrom (@backstrom19) really made a backhand roof @trulyseltzer OT winner look as easy as pie. 🥧 pic.twitter.com/DB5bbeuN8r

— NHL (@NHL) January 23, 2022

The Capitals led 2-0 in overtime shots and 33-22 overall.

Next game: vs. Vegas Golden Knights on Monday (7 PM ET, NBC Sports Washington locally, NHL Network nationally)

By Harrison Brown