John Tavares scored the game-winner in overtime to lift the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs to a 4-3 win against the Washington Capitals on Wednesday night.
Tavares, who also had an assist, broke into the offensive zone to collect Mitch Marner’s backhand clear and slid it five-hole on Logan Thompson with 47 seconds left in overtime.
William Nylander had a goal and an assist for the Maple Leafs, who have won four of their last five games. Joseph Woll made 24 saves.
Nylander made it 3-2 at 15:51 of the third period when he pushed in a Matthew Knies shot that had trickled behind Thompson.
After Knies had a tying goal waved off for a high stick, Marner’s one-timer on the power play from the left circle with Woll pulled for the extra attacker knotted it 3-3 with 48 seconds left.
Aliaksei Protas had a goal and an assist, and Thompson made 30 saves for the Capitals.
Taylor Raddysh gave Washington a 1-0 lead at 11:12 of the first period when his centering pass hit the skate of Toronto’s Max Domi and deflected blocker side on Woll.
The Maple Leafs responded 59 seconds later. Tavares cut around defenseman Matt Roy in the left circle and fed Bobby McMann, who was alone in front to snap it through Thompson and tie it 1-1.
Dylan Strome put the Capitals in front 2-1 at 18:33. The center took a pass from Protas to the net and, after showing backhand, went to his forehand to slip it by the left skate of Woll.
After a Washington goal midway through the second period was overturned on a Maple Leafs challenge for goaltender interference, Protas got one that counted for a 3-1 advantage at 17:48. His pass intended for Alex Ovechkin down low was blocked, and Rasmus Sandin collected it and threaded it back to Protas, who quickly fired it glove side from the bottom of the right circle.
Toronto appeared to pull within one midway through the third courtesy of Steven Lorentz, but the call was reversed after video review determined Lorentz propelled the puck in with his leg.
–Field Level Media
