JJ Peterka shines in regulation, shootout to push Sabres past Caps

JJ Peterka had a goal and an assist in regulation before scoring the game-winning marker in a shootout to lead the Buffalo Sabres past the visiting Washington Capitals, 4-3, on Monday night.

Alex Tuch scored in the third round of the shootout to draw the Sabres even, and then, after Peterka scored, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made the save on Jakob Chychrun's attempt to seal the win for Buffalo.

Tuch also had a goal in regulation for the Sabres, who had lost three straight games (0-2-1) after winning three in a row. Luukkonen made 25 saves.

Tom Wilson notched his fifth multi-goal game of the season for the Capitals, who are 5-2-2 in their past nine games. John Carlson had two assists, putting him over 700 points in his NHL career (701), and Charlie Lindgren made 24 saves.

Alex Ovechkin was kept off the scoresheet and still sits at 872 goals, needing 23 to pass Wayne Gretzky for first place on the league's all-time list.

Washington's Aliaksei Protas tied the score at 3-3 with 4:13 left in the third period when he tipped in a centering pass from Carlson.

Peterka gave the Sabres a 1-0 lead at 4:42 of the first period, getting a loose puck in the right circle and scoring off the far post with a wrist shot.

Wilson made it 1-1 at 6:10 when he scored a power-play goal with a one-timer from the high slot off a pass from Chychrun on the rush.

Tuch put the Sabres back on top after he stole the puck from Chychrun at Buffalo's blue line, then beat Lindgren on a breakaway at 1:07 of the second period.

Wilson struck again to tie the score at 2 at 11:29, knocking in a rebound from in front after Luukkonen made a save on Protas.

The Sabres took a 3-2 lead at 12:49 when Tage Thompson scored on a one-timer from the left circle off a pass from Rasmus Dahlin on a power play.

--Field Level Media