WASHINGTON — Nicklas Backstrom scored 1:36 into overtime, helping the Washington Capitals beat the Boston Bruins 4-3 after blowing a three-goal lead Wednesday night.
Justin Williams scored twice and Daniel Winnik also had a goal to put Washington ahead 3-0 about six minutes into the second period.
After Winnik’s tally, Washington went over 26 minutes without a shot on goal. Boston dominated the final five minutes of the second period, when Dominic Moore and David Pastrnak beat goaltender Braden Holtby. Colin Miller’s power-play score 8:19 into third tied it at 3.
Boston arrived in Washington 4-0-1 over its last five games with three wins in a row, including a 4-3 overtime triumph against Florida on Monday night.
Evgeny Kuznetsov had two assists for the Capitals and Alex Ovechkin got his first point since Nov. 26.
Boston outshot Washington 34-20. The Capitals have won two straight following a three-game skid.
Backstrom patiently waited on the right side before firing the winner past goaltender Tuukka Rask, who entered second in the league with a 1.68 goals-against average. Rask allowed three goals in his previous outing, too.
Williams had two goals over the first 24 games this season, but he matched that total less than eight minutes in against the Bruins. He redirected Kuznetsov’s lofted centering pass past Rask for a 1-0 lead 23 seconds into the first period.
Matt Niskanen left with an upper-body injury and did not return. With the Caps down a defenseman, Boston outshot Washington 11-2 in the second period.
The Capitals’ second goal also occurred in front of the net. Williams emerged from a scramble with a shot that slithered under Rask.
NOTES: Boston assigned F Noel Acciari to the Providence Bruins of the AHL two days after the 24-year forward returned to practice. Acciari injured his right leg on Nov. 7. … Holtby improved to 10-2 career against the Bruins. His first career win came in relief against Boston in November 2010.
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