In Dallas, Alex Ovechkin scored with two minutes left in regulation to draw the Washington Capitals to within one of the Stars on Saturday afternoon.
The Caps’ Dylan Strome scored at 19:17 of the third to force extra time when he knotted the game, 4-4.
The Stars recovered when Thomas Harley scored his second of a double on the afternoon at 3:26 of extra time for a 5-4 win to Dallas.
“This is a first. I like it,” Harley said. “I liked the Anaheim one more because I actually aimed that shot. This one, [Matt Duchene] made a great play on the backcheck, then got up the ice on a 3-on-2. [Duchene] then drove the net and took that [defenseman] with him, made a great pass, and I just put it on net.”
Jake Oettinger made 22 saves in the win.
The Stars improved to 30-13-6.
The Capitals took a 1-0 lead at 9:40 in the opening stanza on a strike by Anthony Mantha,
Dallas replied with a marker form Wyatt Johnston 10:44, tying the game, 1-1.
“That huge finish. We didn’t lay down in a really difficult game. That’s a really good hockey team,” Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said. “Caused a lot of different issues for teams in general, but us as well. Credit our guys for not laying down and finding a way. Six-on-5 steps up huge, scores two goals to get that game to overtime. Would have liked to find a way to get that second point, but like I told them, that point could be very, very important down the road.”
The Capitals dropped to 22-18-7 off their fourth straight loss.
“Wasn’t our best road trip, obviously. We got down a lot in the first three games (trailed 3-0 in all three) and in this game,” Strome said. “In the last three, we scored two goals late. I think it shows that we don’t quit and stick with it. The puck was just sitting there behind [Oettinger] on that last one. You never know when those points are going to come up and matter late in April. That’s where we want to be, battling for a playoff spot. Hopefully that point helps.”
Harley potted his first of the match at 11:07 to stake the Stars to a brief, 2-1 lead.
Rasmus Sandin got the Caps even at 2-2 with a strike at 6:24 middle frame.
“There are 60 minutes of hockey, and we didn’t play 60 minutes of great hockey,” Sandin said. “I think there are moments where we played pretty good, but too often and too much time of today where it’s not good enough, I think.”
Dallas responded with a pair of goals to take a 4-2 lead.
Mason Marchment hit at 11:00 of the second for a 3-2 advantage.
“I don’t think [winning in regulation] really matters at this point. At the end of the day, you’ve got to get those two points,” Marchment said. “It doesn’t really matter how you do it. You’ve just got to keep trying to play a full 60 as much as possible. Took us a little extra tonight, but that’s just how it goes sometimes.”
Matt Duchene pushed the lead to 4-2 when he potted a marker at 2:24 in the third period.
“This team is so easy to play with, everyone is so good and we’re so well coached,” Duchene said. “You just throw on the gear and go out there and take care of your business and you have success. It’s been a lot of fun so far. I’m really grateful to be a Dallas Star.”
Charlie Lindgren made 30 saves in the loss.
You must be logged in to post a comment.