Strome scores with 8 seconds left in OT to lift Capitals past Sabres

Alexeyev scored at 17:01, bringing the score to 2-1 with a wrist shot that deflected past Levi from the point.

“Unreal,” Alexeyev exclaimed about his first NHL goal. “I didn’t even realize it went in, but it felt amazing — like a big weight off my shoulders.”

Oshie then tied the game 2-2 at 7:50 in the second period, backhanding a rebound from the slot after a play by Connor McMichael.

“He made a nice play over the blue line, and I think I actually had him back for an open net,” McMichael said of Oshie. “Luckily the puck went right to him. I think that’s the type of goal he needed. He’s been playing really well lately, and now that he saw one find the back of the net, he’s going to be rolling.”

Shortly after Washington killed off a 5-on-3 power play late in the period that spanned 1:18, Cozens gave Buffalo a 3-2 lead at 16:18, scoring on a one-timer from the left circle.

The goal ended Washington’s streak of 24 consecutive penalty kills in its past 11 games.

“We started off 2-0 right away and then we give that lead up, and then we get it again and we give it up again,” Cozens said. “It’s something you can’t allow to give up two leads in a close game like this against that team that is obviously really hot right now.”

NOTES: It was the first overtime goal of Strome’s career. … Washington defenseman Nick Jensen played 19:24 and blocked three shots in his 500th NHL game. … Peterka has 13 points (six goals, seven assists) in his last 12 games and extended his point streak to four games (two goals, three assists). … Benson (18 years, 194 days) became the fourth-youngest player in franchise history at the time of his first career NHL goal, behind Pierre Turgeon (18 years, 54 days), Rasmus Dahlin (18 years, 183 days) and Nikita Zadorov (18 years, 190 days).