Washington, DC (Sports Network) – Alex Ovechkin scored 4:28 into overtime, leading the Washington Capitals to a 3-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators at Verizon Center.
As time wound down in the extra session, Ovechkin skated down the right side and deked a defender before pulling the trigger on a shot from the right circle that drifted along the ice and through the legs of goaltender Pascal Leclaire for the win.
“I just tried to shoot the puck,” Ovechkin said. “I already played a minute (in overtime), so I was kind of tired, so I just wanted to shoot the puck. It was a good win.”
Ovechkin scored his third goal in two games for the Caps, who have bounced back from a season-opening loss with consecutive home victories. Eric Fehr registered a goal and an assist, while Alexander Semin also scored.
Michal Neuvirth stopped 29-of-31 shots to earn his second victory of the season.
Ryan Shannon and Jarkko Ruutu scored for the Senators, who have lost all three games this season, although they earned a point for the first time. Leclaire made 23 stops in the loss.
“I thought we played very well,” said Senators head coach Cory Clouston. “We came into a building that’s very difficult to get a win. I thought our puck movement was a lot better…we did a good job at our blue line not allowing a lot of odd-man rushes. Unfortunately, we gave up a goal in overtime.”
The Capitals notched the lone goal of the opening period with 1:22 remaining.
Washington quickly pushed the puck into the Ottawa zone, and Brooks Laich fought off two defenders and sent the disc to the mouth of the crease, where Semin was stationed to chip it into the net.
Ruutu’s deft tip-in from out in front on a point shot tied the game midway through the second period, but the Capitals answered quickly to move back in front.
Matt Hendricks held the puck behind Ottawa’s net, waiting for Fehr to jump in front. Fehr was able to one-time Hendricks’ good pass out to the crease past Leclaire for a 2-1 advantage.
The Senators managed to even the score again with 12:40 left in the third period. Peter Regin battled a Washington player to force a turnover just outside the Caps’ zone, then snuck between two defenseman and got the puck to Shannon. Shannon was able to maneuver past one defenseman and lift the puck over Neuvirth for the tying tally from the slot.
The Senators won the 2009-10 season series with Washington, 3-1…The teams combined to go 0-for-10 with the man advantage, with each team failing five times…Ottawa has lost eight of its last nine games as the guest in this series.