Washington, D.C. (WGR 550/WBEN) - The Sabres' three-game road trip ended on a sour note Wednesday night, as Buffalo coughed up a late lead and eventually lost, 4-3, in overtime to Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena.
The Sabres drew first blood at the halfway point of the opening stanza. Through a screen, JJ Peterka netted his eighth goal of the season past goalie Darcy Kuemper, and stayed red-hot in the process.
Despite the continuation of Peterka's great stretch, he was a footnote in the storyline of the period.
Six minutes later, Zach Benson found himself alone all in front of Kuemper, and pulled off a between-the-legs move to register the first goal of his NHL career.
It was Benson's fifth point in nine games since making the team out of training camp and returning from injury.
The Capitals did get a goal back before period's end. Alexander Alexeyev's first goal of his NHL career got Washington back within one ahead of the second frame.
Both teams traded a goal apiece in the second period, as the Capitals first scored to tie the game at 2-2.
A rebound off a shot from forward Connor McMichael was deposited in-behind Sabres goalie Devon Levi by veteran T.J. Oshie. It was Oshie's first goal of the season for Washington.
Later, with less than four minutes on the clock in the second period, Dylan Cozens gave the Sabres a 3-2 lead with his first goal in nine games. It came on the power play with a one-time shot for his fourth goal of the campaign.
Unfortunately for the Sabres, it was the Capitals who got the last laugh on this night in backbreaking fashion.
The blue and gold nursed their 3-2 edge until the 18:45 mark of the third period when forward Tom Wilson got free in the slot with the Capitals running a 6-on-5 advantage with their net empty. The game-tying goal from the veteran winger forced overtime in Washington.
Despite controlling most of the scoring opportunities and zone possession, the Sabres fell victim to a game-winning goal from Dylan Strome with just 8 seconds left in the extra frame. Strome led the way on a developing 2-on-1 rush after a turnover, and opted to keep the puck in lieu of a pass.
The shot ended up beating Levi, and Washington snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, 4-3, in overtime.
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SCORING SUMMARY
First Period:
BUF: 10:09 - JJ Peterka (8) (Tyson Jost, Victor Olofsson); 16:04 - Zach Benson (1) (Victor Olofsson)
WSH: 17:01 - Alexander Alexeyev (1) (Nic Dowd, Trevor van Riemsdyk)
Second Period:
BUF: 16:18 - Dylan Cozens (4) PPG (Rasmus Dahlin, Casey Mittelstadt)
WSH: 7:50 - TJ Oshie (1) (Connor McMichael)
Third Period:
BUF: NONE
WSH: 18:45 - Tom Wilson (4) (Dylan Strome, John Carlson)
Overtime:
BUF: NONE
WSH: 4:52 - Dylan Strome (8) (John Carlson)
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Losi and Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Dylan Strome - WSH
2.) Tom Wilson - WSH
3.) Dylan Cozens - BUF
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What's Next:
The Sabres return home and get right back to game action following Thanksgiving against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday for a 6 p.m. EST faceoff at KeyBank Center. Join Brian Koziol, Pat Malacaro and Paul Hamilton for pregame coverage starting at 5 p.m. EST on the radio home of the Sabres - WGR Sports Radio 550.