He may only get credit for the secondary assist, but the tying goal was all John Erskine. The big defenseman stepped up into the zone to win the puck away from the Sabres and tipping it towards Jason Chimera. Chimera found an open Nicklas Backstrom just inside the blueline who patiently waited for the shot he wanted and struck it clinically past Ryan Miller and off the underside of the crossbar.
The Capitals managed to keep the game tied thanks to Braden Holtby's quick movement and aggressive glove hand. With just over six minutes remaining in regulation, Holtby's lighting fast slide from the right to the left shut down a two-on-one shot from Jason Pominville.
With 2:54 left in the game, Backstrom made a critical mistake by losing control of his stick and clocking former teammate Shaun Morrisonn in the face. The high-stick was dangerous enough to earn a four minute penalty, meaning the Capitals would face the rest of regulation and the first minute of overtime with only four men on the ice. This would make the third double-minor penalty against Washington tonight.