Cole Hutson scored 74 seconds into overtime to lift the Washington Capitals to a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night in Ottawa, Ontario, finishing a game that had already swung several times before the extra period even began.
The Capitals had to recover from a difficult second period, one in which Ottawa scored twice, built a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes and outshot Washington 17-2. But the Capitals kept themselves in range, and Pierre-Luc Dubois tied the game at 2 at 12:31 of the third period to send it to overtime.
How Washington turned it around
Matt Roy gave Washington an early boost by scoring 35 seconds into the game, but the Senators answered with two goals in the second period. Thomas Chabot assisted on both Ottawa goals, and the Senators carried that 2-1 lead into the third.
Washington’s response in the final period was enough to keep the game alive. Dubois’ goal brought the Capitals level, and then Hutson finished the job early in overtime to seal the win.
Jakob Chychrun's late hit added to the tension
Jakob Chychrun also played a key role in the closing minutes. With 2:57 remaining, he leveled a huge hit on Nick Cousins, and no penalty was called. It was one of the more memorable moments in a game that had already turned into a tight, physical battle.
The result was another sign of how resilient Washington can be when a game gets messy. The Capitals were tested by Ottawa’s second-period surge, but they still found a way to leave with two points after Hutson’s overtime winner.
