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Washington Capitals Storm Back To Stun Buffalo Sabres, 4-3 (OT) – Alexander Alexeyev Scores First Career NHL Goal; Dylan Strome Wins It

By Harrison Brown·
Photo: X/@Capitals

The Washington Capitals beat the Buffalo Sabres by a score of 4-3 in overtime at Capital One Arena on Wednesday night. Washington improved to 9-1-1 in their last 11 games and have points in seven straight (6-0-1). Overall, they are 10-4-2 this season. Goaltender Darcy Kuemper made 25 saves in the win.

Washington’s Lines

Alex Ovechkin — Dylan Strome — Tom Wilson
Anthony Mantha — Connor McMichael — T.J. Oshie
Sonny Milano — Hendrix Lapierre — Aliaksei Protas
Beck Malenstyn — Nic Dowd — Nicolas Aube-Kubel

Rasmus Sandin— John Carlson
Joel Edmundson — Nick Jensen
Alexander Alexeyev — Trevor Van Riemsdyk

Kuemper
Charlie Lindgren

Scratched: RW Matthew Philipps, D Lucas Johansen

Injured: LW Max Pacioretty (Achilles), C Nicklas Backstrom (hip), D Martin Fehervary (lower-body), C Evgeny Kuznetsov (illness)

Buffalo’s Lines

Jeff Skinner — Dylan Cozens — Alex Tuch
Zach Benson — Casey Mittelstadt — J.J. Peterka
Jordan Greenway — Tyson Jost — Victor Olofsson
Peyton Krebs — Kyle Okposo

Rasmus Dahlin — Ryan Johnson
Owen Power — Henri Jokiharju
Connor Clifton – Erik Johnson
Mattias Samuelsson

Devon Levi
Eric Comrie

Scratched: D Jacob Bryson, C Zemgus Girgensons, G Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Injured: C Tage Thompson (wrist), RW Jack Quinn (Achilles)

FIRST PERIOD

Scoring

The Sabres opened the scoring with a tally from Peterka (8) at 10:09. Jost (2) and Victor Olofsson (2) had the helpers.

The Sabres stretched their lead to 2-0 with a between-the-legs goal from Benson (1) at 16:04 of the first frame. It was Benson’s first career NHL goal.

The Capitals finally got on the scoreboard on Alexeyev’s first career NHL goal at 17:01 of the first period. Dowd (1) and Van Riemsdyk (3) had the assists.

Buffalo held the 2-1 lead at the first intermission.

Shots: 10-10

Other Notable Stats:

SECOND PERIOD

Scoring

The Capitals tied the game on Oshie’s first goal of the season at 7:50 of the second period. McMichael (4) had the lone assist.

The Sabres restored their lead on a five-on-three power-play goal by Cozens at 16:18, making it 3-2. The marker ended the Capitals’ 24-straight penalty-kill streak. The goal was unassisted.

The Sabres held the 3-2 lead into the second intermission.

Shots: Capitals led 12-11

Other Notable Stats:

THIRD PERIOD 

Scoring

18:45, 3-3: Wilson one-timed a slapper past the blocker of Levi from the slot after Strome set him up with a backhand feed from the right dot to tie it at six-on-five.

Shots: 28-26 (6-4 Washington in the third)

Other Notable Stats: 20-9 Washington in hits, 19-11 Washington in blocked shots

Screenshot: Natural StatTrick

Overtime

Scoring

4:55, 4-3 Washington: After Dahlin missed a shot over the net at the offensive end, the puck rung around the endboards and went to Carlson. Carlson sent the puck up to Strome at center ice, who streaked down the wing and wristed a shot under the glove of Levi from the right circle to win it.

Shots: 31-28 Washington (including 3-2 in overtime)

Screenshot: Natural StatTrick

Standings

Washington jumped a point ahead of the Philadelphia Flyers for second place in the Metropolitan Division standings and will have three games in hand on them by the end of the night. They also leaped two points in front the Carolina Hurricanes but four ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins with two games in hand on both opponents.

Next game: Friday vs. Edmonton Oilers (3 PM ET, Monumental Sports Network in-market, ESPN+ out-of-market)

Shavings

  • Nick Jensen’s 500th career NHL game.

By Harrison Brown