Recap: Red Wings knock off Capitals in overtime, 3-2

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Captain Dylan Larkin silenced the Capital One Arena crowd with a snipe just over 90 seconds into overtime, lifting the Detroit Red Wings to a come-from-behind, 3-2 win over the Washington Capitals Wednesday night.
Detroit scored three unanswered goals after falling behind, 2-0, early in the second period. The Red Wings improved to 4-2-1 overall, collecting their eighth and ninth points of the season. Washington was handed its third overtime loss. Red Wings goalie Thomas Greiss made 26 saves to collect his third win of the season.

Even while trailing, Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill pointed to his team's even-keel approach that led to Detroit's first overtime win of the season.
"I think we've infused more talent; we have a better hockey team and so you have a better chance to come back," Blashill said. "With that, you also have more belief, and belief that you can come back in those types of situations. I didn't feel any frustration or panic on the bench at all. We just kinda kept playing.
"Certainly, to do it, to come back and have a chance to win in overtime, you need goaltending against that team. They have a lot of talent and can make plays out of nowhere."

The opening period featured an efficient level of play for both teams, with several quality scoring chances on both sides. Sam Gagner was whistled for a tripping penalty on T.J. Oshie with less than three minutes remaining (17:18), and Alex Ovechkin made the Red Wings pay by scoring a power-play goal, his eighth tally of the season.
Ovechkin's initial shot was turned aside with an acrobatic save by Greiss, but as he fell to the ice, Ovechkin powered the rebound into the back of the net, lifting the puck to the top shelf from his knees.
Larkin drew a tripping penalty with just 23 seconds remaining in the period, setting up a power play for the Red Wings to begin the second period.

Washington fended off Detroit's power play to begin the frame, and added another power-play goal at exactly the 16:00 mark. Near the right faceoff dot, possession of the puck was up for grabs, and eventually fed to Evgeny Kuznetsov, who wristed in his fifth goal of the season to make the score, 2-0.
The Red Wings got on the board at the 10:43 mark of the second period. Vladislav Namestnikov dropped the puck to Filip Hronek, who skated behind the goal and flipped it in front of the net, where Adam Erne finished the play, scoring his second goal of the season. The remainder of the period remained scoreless, and Washington took a 2-1 lead into the dressing room at the second intermission.

Detroit tied things up, 2-2, just over two minutes into the third period (17:57). Troy Stecher threw a puck at the net from the right side, which ricocheted out to Erne, who spun around and fired his left-handed shot at Washington goalie Vitek Vanecek. Robby Fabbri buried the rebound, securing his second goal of the season. Greiss made a pair of key saves in the final three minutes of the third period to force the game to overtime.

Larkin's game-winner came at the 3:23 mark in the extra session. He received the puck from Lucas Raymond via Moritz Seider, and patiently set up a snipe from near the left faceoff dot. The goal secured Detroit's fifth game this season scoring three or more goals.
"That's the difference for us, is winning these tight games," Erne said. "These points are really gonna add up at the end of the year. We have a lot of young players that are getting used to the league, getting used to our system and just confident out there."
Friday's puck drop is set for 7 p.m., 30 minutes prior to most weekday start times at Little Caesars Arena. The game will air exclusively on ESPN+ and Hulu.