Kahun scores shootout goal in Sabres 3-2 win over Capitals

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Dominik Kahun scored the decisive goal in the seventh round of a shootout and the Buffalo Sabres snapped a six-game skid with a 3-2 win over the Washington Capitals on Monday night.

Linus Ullmark stopped 33 shots through overtime and six of seven shootout attempts in his first game in six weeks.

Jack Eichel snapped a career-worst seven-game point drought and rookie Victor Olofsson also scored for Buffalo. Ullmark improved to 17-14-3 in making his first appearance after missing 18 games since hurting his lower right leg in a 5-2 loss to Ottawa on Jan. 28.

Alex Ovechkin had a goal and an assist, and Dmitry Orlov also scored as Washington erased a 2-0 deficit in the third period. Ovechkin’s goal was his 48th of the season, tying him with Boston’s David Pastrnak for the NHL lead.

Braden Holtby stopped 24 shots through overtime and gave up shootout goals to Kahun and defenseman Rasmus Dahlin.

Kahun, acquired from Pittsburgh in a trade last month, scored by driving across the front of the net and then flipping in a backhand.

Ullmark secured the win by getting his right pad out to stop Richard Panik on Washington’s final shootout attempt.

Despite the loss, the Capitals earned a point to move one ahead of idle Philadelphia atop the Metropolitan Division.

The Capitals continued a stretch of inconsistency while coming off a 5-2 win at Pittsburgh on Saturday. Washington dropped to 7-9-3 in its past 19, a stretch in which the team has won consecutive games just once.

The Capitals, who began the day with an NHL-leading 94 third-period goals, fully dominated the final frame by scoring twice and outshooting the Sabres 16-5.

Ovechkin cut Buffalo’s lead to 2-1 by scoring off a faceoff to the left of the Sabres net 3:33 into the third period.

Orlov tied it with a shot that banked in off two Sabres defenders with 6:49 left. Driving across the top of the Buffalo zone, Orlov snapped a shot that ticked off Brandon Montour’s stick and began skidding wide of the net before deflecting in off the back of Rasmus Ristolainen’s skate.

The Sabres keep winding up on the wrong end of goalie interference decisions.

Montour appeared to score the go-ahead goal with 2:48 remaining by one-timing in Sam Reinhart’s pass into the high slot.

The goal, however, was immediately waved off and Jeff Skinner was penalized for interfering with Holtby. Replays showed Skinner made contact with Holtby’s left pad before Montour shot, though it also appeared Skinner might have been nudged into the crease by Washington’s Lars Eller.

The Sabres had two goalie interference calls go against them in their previous home game, a 4-2 loss to Pittsburgh on Thursday.

On Monday, the crowd booed for the next two minutes before a loud cheer went up after Buffalo killed off Skinner’s penalty.

Olofsson opened the scoring 4:53 in with his 20th of the season by snapping in Marcus Johansson’s no-look pass into the right circle and beating Holtby on the short side.

Eichel scored his team-leading 37th goal 53 seconds into the second period, and 25 seconds after Capitals defenseman Brenden Dillon was penalized for slashing.

Eichel worked the puck back and forth with Dahlin in the right circle several times. With the Capitals caught leaning toward Dahlin, the rookie sent the puck back to an open Eichel, who snapped a shot into the open side from the left circle.

NOTES: Sabres RW Kyle Okposo appeared in his 800th career game. … The Sabres closed the dressing room to reporters following their pregame skate as a result of concerns regarding the new coronavirus. Both teams’ dressing rooms were to be closed to media members following the game. The Sabres were scheduled to have three players address reporters in the media room, where coach Ralph Krueger usually takes questions from reporters.. The Capitals were scheduled to make select player and coach Todd Reirden available in a hallway outside their room. … Olofsson became the 16th Sabres rookie to score 20 goals, and first since Eichel and Reinhart both reached the mark in 2015-16.

UP NEXT

Capitals: Host the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night.

Sabres: At the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night.