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SPORTS Monday 6 January 2020
Eller's goal completes Capitals' stunning OT win over Sharks

By IAN QUILLEN tin Jones and inside the "We were the better team
WASHINGTON (AP) — The right post. I thought for most of the
Washington Capitals nev- "That was one of the wild- game," Kane said. "We've
er believe they're out of a est games I've played," Eller got to look at the positives.
game. On Sunday, they said. It's easy to look at the neg-
showed why. Jones stopped 24 shots, atives."
Lars Eller scored with 2:59 Couture also had an assist NOTES: Kane scored all
remaining in overtime af- and Timo Meier had two, three goals in one period
ter the Capitals rallied from but San Jose was still swept — the first — in his other
two goals down in the final by Washington in the sea- hat trick this season, which
minute of regulation, com- son series in unlikely fashion. came in a 5-2 win over the
pleting a stunning 5-4 victo- Kane's three goals — all in Carolina Panthers on Oct.
ry over the San Jose Sharks. the second period — gave 16. ... Sunday marked the
T.J. Oshie tied the game him a team-leading 18 for 10-year anniversary of Alex
with 15 seconds left. Eller the Sharks, who fell to 2-2 Ovechkin being named
also assisted Jakub Vrana's on their last five-game trip Washington's captain.
second goal of the game of the season. He's the second-longest- Washington Capitals center Lars Eller (20), of Denmark, cele-
with 47 seconds remaining Couture's insurance tally tenured captain in team brates his winning goal in overtime of an NHL hockey game with
as the NHL-leading Capi- looked like it would be history behind Rod Lang- defenseman John Carlson (74) as San Jose Sharks right wing
Kevin Labanc (62) skates away Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020, in Wash-
tals became just the sev- enough for victory. But Vra- way (Oct. 5, 1982 to Feb. ington.
enth team in league history na answered only 13 sec- 9, 1993.) ... Ovechkin saw Associated Press
to win after trailing by two onds later, assisted by Eller his points streak end at five
inside the final minute. and Radko Gudas. Then games. ... San Jose's Bar- period. He was ruled to Sharks: Finish their trip at St.
"We just keep working," Os- Oshie leveled the game clay Goodrow had an ap- have touched the puck Louis on Tuesday.
hie said. "We've got every- from in close on Evgeny parent opening goal disal- with a high stick. Capitals: Host Ottawa on
one tugging the rope. And Kuznetsov's feed. lowed 1:14 into the second UP NEXT Tuesday.q
when you have that, it's
fun."
Evander Kane had his third
career hat trick for San
Jose, which never trailed
before Eller's game-winner.
"That's why they lead the
league and that's why they
have the most points," said
Sharks coach Bob Bough-
ner, "because they find
ways to win games. As
disappointed as I am, I'm
pretty content in how our
5-on-5 game looks."
Logan Couture scored an
empty-netter with a minute
remaining, appearing to
seal the game. But Capitals
coach Todd Reirden left
the net empty, and Wash-
ington responded with its
sixth and seventh goals of
the season when playing in
6-on-5 situations.
"We have a plan," Reirden
said of those late-game
successes. "We believe
in those players. They are
players that are not fazed
by pressure. They're anxious
to get out there and try to
be the guys that tie up the
game."
Nic Dowd had a second-
period goal for Washing-
ton. Braden Holtby made
25 saves to snap a three-
game losing streak in net
and picked up an assist on
Eller's decisive goal, push-
ing the puck up ice to John
Carlson.
From there, Carlson sent a
cross-ice pass to Eller, who
rifled his shot beyond Mar-