WASHINGTON — In a thrilling game on Monday night, the Washington Capitals managed to pull off a 5-4 shootout victory over the Ottawa Senators, putting an end to a three-game losing streak. Tom Wilson was instrumental in the victory, achieving a “Gordie Howe Hat Trick” by engaging in a fight with Brady Tkachuk in the first period, scoring a power-play goal in the second, and assisting Martin Fehervary’s crucial goal in the third.
Wilson’s assist on Fehervary’s goal came with just 7:17 left in regulation time, seemingly securing the game for the Capitals. However, Tkachuk, not to be outdone, equalized the score with a goal at 1:08 remaining, utilizing a 6-on-4 advantage, thus ensuring the Senators earned a crucial point.
In overtime, the Capitals faced the challenge of playing a man down due to a too-many-men-on-the-ice penalty, yet successfully killed off their seventh minor penalty. The game was finally decided in a shootout where Dylan Strome emerged as the sole scorer, securing the win for the Eastern Conference leaders who had initially squandered a 3-0 lead.
Washington’s Pierre-Luc Dubois contributed significantly, with a goal and two assists, while Connor McMichael also scored. Logan Thompson proved vital with 33 saves in regulation and overtime, and he remained unbeatable during the shootout, securing his 26th victory of the season. However, Capitals’ veteran superstar Alex Ovechkin remains 10 goals shy of the NHL career record.
The Senators, despite a spirited comeback, fell to their sixth loss in seven games. Shane Pinto scored twice, and Claude Giroux added another goal. Meanwhile, goalie Linus Ullmark faced an onslaught but managed 37 saves.
Takeaways from the game include the determination shown by the Senators as they clawed back into contention, although they missed crucial points in the playoff race against teams like Columbus and Detroit. For the Capitals, although the game wasn’t handled with ease after a promising start, a win is a win, and it was much needed.
The pivotal moment came when Thompson successfully denied all three attempts he faced during the shootout. Notably, Ottawa’s Tim Stützle extended his impressive point streak to 12 games by contributing two assists.
Looking ahead, the Senators are set to face off against Chicago on Wednesday, while the Capitals will take on the New York Rangers on the same night.
