Capitals Defeat Golden Knights 5-4 in Shootout

Dylan Strome scores in regulation and shootout to lead Washington to victory

Mar. 29, 2026 at 6:11am

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The Washington Capitals defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 5-4 in a shootout on Saturday night. Dylan Strome scored once in regulation and the lone goal in the shootout to lead the Capitals to victory after they had squandered an early 3-0 lead. The Golden Knights scored four unanswered goals to take a 4-3 lead, but Strome tied the game late in the third period to force overtime.

Why it matters

This was an important win for the Capitals as they continue to battle for a playoff spot in the competitive Eastern Conference. The Golden Knights, meanwhile, missed an opportunity to gain ground in the tight Western Conference playoff race.

The details

The Capitals jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first two periods with goals from Hendrix Lapierre, Justin Sourdif, and Anthony Beauvillier. However, the Golden Knights stormed back with four unanswered goals, including a short-handed tally from former Capital Nic Dowd and a goal from Rasmus Andersson. Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner also scored for Vegas. Strome's late third-period goal tied the game and sent it to overtime, where he then scored the lone shootout goal to give the Capitals the win.

  • The Capitals opened the scoring at 6:13 of the first period.
  • Sourdif and Beauvillier scored in the first seven minutes of the second period to make it 3-0.
  • Dowd scored a short-handed goal late in the first period for Vegas.
  • Andersson scored 25 seconds after Dowd's goal to make it 3-2.
  • Eichel and Marner scored in the third period to give Vegas a 4-3 lead.

The players

Dylan Strome

A center for the Washington Capitals who scored the game-tying goal in the third period and the lone shootout goal to lead his team to victory.

Nic Dowd

A former Washington Capital who scored a short-handed goal for the Vegas Golden Knights in the first period.

Logan Thompson

The Capitals' goaltender who made 25 saves in the win.

Adin Hill

The Golden Knights' goaltender who made 17 saves in the loss.

Cole Hutson

A Capitals defenseman who had his first career multi-point game.

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What they’re saying

“We knew we had to battle back after giving up that lead, and the guys showed a lot of character to force overtime and get the win.”

— Dylan Strome, Washington Capitals Center

What’s next

The Capitals will host the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday, while the Golden Knights will host the Vancouver Canucks on Monday.

The takeaway

This was an exciting back-and-forth game that showcased the Capitals' resilience in overcoming a late deficit to earn a crucial two points in the playoff race. The Golden Knights, meanwhile, missed an opportunity to gain ground in the tight Western Conference standings.