{{pageModel.leagueAbbr}} {{pageModel.subtitle}} | Las Vegas Review-Journal
National Hockey League
Vegas 4, Washington 3
When: 12:30 PM ET, Sunday, February 4, 2018
Where: Captial One Arena, Washington, District of Columbia
Referees: Tom Kowal, Evgeny Romasko
Linesmen: Derek Amell, Tony Sericolo
Attendance: 18506
Alex Tuch scored from outside the crease with 5:12 remaining to give the Vegas Golden Knights a 4-3 victory over the Washington Capitals in a battle of division leaders Sunday afternoon in Washington.

Tuch came towards the crease from goalie Philipp Grubauer's right and got off a bit of a weak shot. However, Grubauer (27 saves) couldn't control the puck, and it slid through the crease and just over the line inside the right post.

Washington challenged for goalie interference but the play stood.

The victory put Vegas goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (20 saves) into 13th place on the all-time wins list (390), moving him past Dominik Hasek.

Vegas now leads the Pacific Division with 74 points, and Washington remains in first in the Metropolitan Division (65 points).

Washington coach Barry Trotz passed Lindy Ruff for fifth place on the NHL's all-time games coached list. Trotz now has coached 1,494 games and needs six more to become the fifth person to make it to the milestone of 1,500 games.

Also for the Caps, T.J. Oshie was fined $5,000 for his cross-check on Pittsburgh's Kris Letang in Friday loss to the Penguins.

This was the first time that the expansion Golden Knights ever have played in Washington, although they did beat the Capitals in Vegas (3-0) earlier this season.

There is a bit of a connection between the two teams. Vegas general manager George McPhee held the same job from 1997-2014 with the Caps.

The teams traded goals throughout this game. Washington scored first and Vegas second in the first, second and third periods.

Chandler Stephenson scored his third goal in three games for a 1-0 Washington lead in the first before Ryan Carpenter notched his initial goal with Vegas, tying the game.

In the second period, Matt Niskanen (one goal, one assist) gave the Capitals a 2-1 edge with a shot from the high slot before Reilly Smith tied it with a goal from in front.

Nicklas Backstrom put Washington up 3-2 with his goal 52 seconds into the third period before Smith tied it on his second goal, a wrist shot at 9:21.

Carpenter finished with one goal and one assist for Vegas. Pierre-Edourd Bellemare and Jonathan Marchessault both posted two assists in the victory.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Vegas   Washington
Reilly Smith 2 Points Matt Niskanen 2
Reilly Smith 2 Goals Matt Niskanen 1
Pierre-Edouard Bellemare 2 Assists Matt Niskanen 1
Reilly Smith 1 Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Marc-Andre Fleury .870 Save Percentage Philipp Grubauer .871
Marc-Andre Fleury 20 Saves Philipp Grubauer 27
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Vegas 31 4 1-1 2-2 4 26
Washington 23 3 0-2 0-1 2 19
Upcoming Games
  • Washington will play their next game on the road against Columbus. The Capitals have a W/L % of .581 after a win and .571 after a loss.
  • Vegas will play their next game on the road against Pittsburgh. The Golden Knights have a W/L % of .676 after a win and .667 after a loss.