Cole Hutson needed just 74 seconds of overtime to end it for Washington.
Set up by Alex Ovechkin, Hutson buried the winner and sent the Capitals home with a 3-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday in Ottawa.
Washington had to grind for it after a rough second period put them on their heels. The Capitals were outshot 17-2 in that frame and went 20 minutes and five seconds before getting their next shot in the third, but they still found a way to flip the game late.
Matt Roy opened the scoring just 35 seconds into the night, ripping a slap shot past Samuel Ersson off a pass from Jakob Chychrun for his first of the season. Ottawa answered in the second and took a 2-1 lead into the third, with Thomas Chabot driving both Senators goals.
On the first, Chabot held the puck at the blue line, worked a give-and-go with Michael Amadio, then found Ridly Greig in the slot for a backhand finish past Logan Thompson. Later in the period, Chabot fed Stephen Halliday, then slipped the puck through Chychrun’s legs to Hayden Hodgson for his first of the season.
The Capitals steadied themselves after that. Their power play helped swing momentum, and once the advantage ended, Pierre-Luc Dubois finished the job. Hutson found Dubois alone at the side of the net, and Dubois made no mistake to tie it 2-2 at 12:31 of the third.
Ersson kept Ottawa alive with a big stop on Jack St. Ivany with four minutes left, and the Senators also got a break when Jakob Chychrun laid a heavy hit on Nick Cousins with 2:57 remaining. No penalty was called, much to Ottawa’s frustration, and Cousins needed help getting off the ice.
Thompson finished with 23 saves for Washington, while Ersson stopped 14 shots for Ottawa.
Ridly Greig was back in the Senators’ lineup after missing two games.
The Capitals improved to 10-6-0, while the Senators fell to 11-6-2.
Ryan Leonard also reached a milestone Tuesday, playing in his 100th NHL game. He has 26 goals, making him one of only five Capitals since 1990 to score 25 or more goals in his first 100 NHL games, alongside Alex Ovechkin (64), Alexander Semin (39), Dmitri Khristich (38) and Peter Bondra (29).
Washington heads to the New Jersey Devils on Thursday, while Ottawa hosts the Colorado Avalanche the same night.
In Other News...
Senators Let Another Late Chance Slip Away In Brutal OT Loss
The Senators were left to stew over another one that got away after a 3-2 overtime loss to Washington, a game that started with Ottawa chasing from behind but still gave them chances to turn the tide. Ridly Greig and Hayden Hodgson scored in regulation, and Thomas Chabot set up both goals, helping the Senators claw back into a matchup that looked wobbly early.
But the night also carried a jolt late in the third period when Nick Cousins left after a heavy hit from Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun, a play that was reviewed and ultimately not ruled dirty. Ottawa also came up empty on four power-play chances, leaving the Senators with plenty to revisit after another tight game slipped past them at the end. [Read more 🡒]
Senators Suddenly Face A Troubling Nick Cousins Injury Concern
Nick Cousins night ended in alarming fashion after a body check from Washington defenseman Jakob Chychrun left the Ottawa forward motionless on the ice and needing help to get off. It was the kind of scene that immediately shifts attention away from the score and toward the player, especially for a Senators team that has leaned on Cousins for veteran depth in the first year of his two-year contract.
The postgame update only deepened the concern. Head coach Travis Green said Cousins was not doing well, and Ottawa will now have to wait and see how serious the injury is. Cousins has dealt with a concussion before, though he has not had an extensive history of head injuries, which makes the next stretch especially important for both the player and the team. [Read more 🡒]
Senators Face A Tough Carter Yakemchuk Decision Soon
Carter Yakemchuks first stretch with the Senators has already turned into a lesson in patience. The rookie defenceman has been in and out of the lineup recently, and when he does play, his minutes have been limited as Ottawa tries to balance his long-term upside with the realities of a tight roster and the demands of NHL defending.
The organization still sees plenty to like in his talent and development path, but the early returns have also made clear where the work remains. Ottawas coaches have pointed to the need for continued growth before he can be trusted in a bigger role, and his usage could keep shifting depending on how the team handles its blue line in the coming days. [Read more 🡒]