Alex Tuch scored one goal in the shootout after nailing two in regulation as the Buffalo Sabres topped the visiting Washington Capitals 4-3 on Monday night.
After Tuch’s marker in the third round of the shootout, JJ Peterka scored the clinching goal in the next round. Following Peterka’s goal, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made the save on Jakob Chychrun’s attempt to seal the win for Buffalo, which had lost three straight games (0-2-1) after winning three in a row.
Luukkonen made 25 saves, and Peterka had two assists in regulation.
Tom Wilson notched his fifth multi-goal game of the season for the Capitals, who are 5-2-2 in their past nine games. John Carlson had two assists, putting him at 700 points in his NHL career, and Charlie Lindgren made 24 saves.
Alex Ovechkin was kept off the scoresheet and still sits at 872 goals, needing 23 to pass Wayne Gretzky for first place on the league’s all-time list.
Washington’s Aliaksei Protas tied the score at 3-3 with 4:13 left in the third period when he tipped in a centering pass from Carlson.
Tuch gave the Sabres a 1-0 lead at 4:42 of the first period on a tip-in, after Peterka got a loose puck in the right circle and fired a wrist shot.
Wilson made it 1-1 at 6:10 when he scored a power-play goal with a one-timer from the high slot off a pass from Chychrun on the rush.
Tuch put the Sabres back on top after he stole the puck from Chychrun at Buffalo’s blue line, then beat Lindgren on a breakaway at 1:07 of the second period.
Wilson struck again to tie the score at 2 at 11:29, knocking in a rebound from in front after Luukkonen made a save on Protas.
The Sabres took a 3-2 lead at 12:49 when Tage Thompson scored on a one-timer from the left circle off a pass from Rasmus Dahlin on a power play.
–Field Level Media
