WASHINGTON — Shea Theodore scored at 1:35 of overtime to give the Vegas Golden Knights their fifth straight win, 3-2 against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on Tuesday.
Jack Eichel controlled the puck in the Washington zone and fed Theodore, who was cutting to the net and scored under Charlie Lindgren‘s left arm.
“Great play,” Theodore said. “Obviously, [Eichel is] a skilled player with the puck and I think if you can kind of read through his eyes and get into a good spot, he’ll find you.”
Video: VGK@WSH: Eichel sets up Theodore’s goal in overtime
Eichel had a goal and an assist. Alex Pietrangelo had three assists, and William Carrier scored for the Golden Knights (9-2-0). Logan Thompson made 19 saves.
Vegas trailed 2-1 to start the third period.
“We’re a veteran group, so we’re never going to be out of the fight,” Thompson said. “These guys, they know how to win and were confident coming in here after the second period that we were going to find a way to get two points tonight.”
Marcus Johansson and Trevor van Riemsdyk scored, and Dylan Strome had two assists for the Capitals (5-4-2), who were coming off a 3-2 shootout loss at the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday.
Lindgren made 28 saves in his home debut after signing a three-year, $3.3 million contract ($1.1 million average annual value) with Washington as a free agent in the offseason.
“It’s extra frustrating just because I thought we played well enough to get the two points, especially on the back end of a back-to-back against a really good team,” Lindgren said. “We put ourselves in a really good spot and I think that’s what stings the most, is knowing that we were really close to getting two.”
Video: VGK@WSH: Eichel knots the game on the power play in the 1st
Carrier tied it 2-2 at 14:04 of the third period. William Karlsson controlled the puck along the left boards and passed to Carrier, whose shot from the left face-off circle went in off the right post.
“You could see a little bit of frustration on both sides,” Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said. “I think both teams weren’t making the plays they’re probably accustomed to, but we got a big goal from Will. We won a puck on a forecheck and he gave us some life.”
Garnet Hathaway nearly won the game for the Capitals but slid the puck past Thompson just after time expired in the third.
“I understand the circumstances, I understand the situation, but that doesn’t mean you have to like the way we played the third,” Capitals coach Peter Laviolette said. “I thought that we sat back, we left too many holes and we gave up [a lot] of chances. We didn’t generate a bunch.”
Video: VGK@WSH: Carrier scores in 3rd period
Johansson gave Washington a 1-0 lead on a power-play goal at 3:39 of the first period. Strome passed into the slot for Johansson, whose shot deflected off Vegas defenseman Alex Martinez’s stick and over Thompson’s shoulder.
Eichel tied it 1-1 on the power play at 18:55 when he beat Lindgren with a low shot from the top of the right circle.
The Capitals took a 2-1 lead at 1:01 of the second period when van Riemsdyk got the puck off a face-off win by Strome and scored from the left point. It was van Riemsdyk’s first goal in 43 games dating to Jan. 28 against the Dallas Stars.
Capitals forward Beck Malenstyn left the game with an upper-body injury after blocking a shot in the first, and Laviolette said he was being evaluated. Washington was already without injured forwards Nicklas Backstrom (hip), Tom Wilson (lower body), Carl Hagelin (hip, eye), Connor Brown (lower body) and TJ Oshie (lower body).
“It’s definitely hurting us a little bit,” Johansson said. “We’re missing some good, key pieces to this team. But there’s no excuse. We battled hard and we think we played two good games, but unfortunately we couldn’t come out with more than two points.”
NOTES: Pietrangelo (397) passed Mark Giordano of the Toronto Maple Leafs (395) for the ninth most assists among active defensemen. … Eichel has 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 11 games this season. … Golden Knights center Chandler Stephenson won 9 of 11 face-offs (82 percent). … Vegas is 7-2-0 against Washington in the regular season and has won the past four games between the teams. … Alex Ovechkin had an assist for the Capitals but remained at 785 goals, one behind Gordie Howe’s NHL record for the most for one team (Detroit Red Wings). He was held to one shot on goal. … Washington was without a defenseman John Carlson (lower body) for a second straight game. He is day to day.
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