Alex Tuch takes revenge on the Buffalo Sabres, the Caps win in overtime

After three days of rest, which is too much, the Washington Capitals returned to action a little healthier to face the Buffalo Sabers (4-4-2).

The Capitals opened the game with two atrocious misplays in their own zone. First, Jack Quinn had a clear path to the net against Ovechkin’s line. Then Chychrun turned the puck over behind the net and Josh Doan finished it. Before the end of the period, Tuch had a lucky rebound and converted it into Washington’s first goal.

The second period was much better. Strome scored twice – first from Kyrou, then from Sourdif, both from seven feet away. 3-2 after two hours. The Caps lost that lead early in the third period, with Noah Ostlund beating Charlie Lindgren on a rebound. Tied at three-sixty, we headed into overtime.

In added time, Alex Tuch avenged his former team by moving to first place.

The Caps beat the Sabers 4-3 in overtime!

• With Vincent Desharnais lost to appendicitis or otherwise, and Rasmus Sandin still out long term, the Caps moved Dylan McIlrath back to the blue line. Justin Holl wasn’t eligible for recall, and new Jack St. Ivany isn’t even here yet. The defensive alignment is the team’s biggest problem, unless Chris says it’s man-to-man coverage. So this is it instead.
• On the bright side, Justin Sourdif And Pierre-Luc Dubois both were returning from what my grandmother called the Old North and South. It’s circulating. Sebulba had something; we felt ecch for about a month. Wash your hands.
• Just like it’s hard not to like the Caps’ forward lines (or at least 75 percent of them), it’s hard not to get excited about the Caps’ defense. No one was on Jack Quinn for that first goal, so he was free to head into the danger zone. Jakob Chychrun reverse pass to a white jersey for the second goal. Noah Ostlund was free to shoot from the wings on the tying goal as Strome, Tuch and Fehervary all failed saving throws on Minor Illusion in the slot.
• The Sabers also had their defensive weaknesses. Dennis Gilbert missed this one to set up Tuch’s goal.

• A former Sabre, Tuch extended his goal lead with this OTGWG.
• The other best cap of the evening Dylan Stromé scored the second and third goals of the season, both going to the net and getting excellent adjustments from his teammates.
• With two assists, both primary, Jordan Kyrou now leads the team in assists.
• The Caps allowed a few shorthanded chances on their first two power plays.
• With the game tied in the third period, the Caps received two restrictive penalties: a trip on Wilson and a hit on Tuch. I love it when the cutting penalty completely breaks the dude’s stick, like Tuch did to Zucker, if only because it’s the only thing that keeps us from putting our glasses on our noses and whining, “um actually, I think the esteemed zebras made a mistake and committed an ad hominem fallacy.”
• It would be nice if they tried something different with Ovechkin. More different than the difference we have now.

Finally, after several months of rest, the costumes are back. #joebsuitofthenight

– Good Skeet Pete (@peterhassett.net) 2026-10-24T23:05:34.450Z

The Caps have a lot of strengths – young talent, physicality, Belarusian excellence – but they are certainly imperfect. They can lead the possession game while sabotaging themselves with numerous mistakes. This is the work of Spencer Carbery.

And now you won’t believe this, but here are three more days off. They started the season back-to-back, played four games in seven days, and now they have two in eight days. At least the next one will be against the Flyers.