WASHINGTON, March 30 (UPI) -- Alex Kovalev connected on a power-play goal with 18.9 seconds left in overtime Tuesday to give the Ottawa Senators a 5-4 win over Washington.
Kovalev found the net while the Senators were on a 4-on-3 power play thanks to a tripping call on Washington's Nicklas Backstrom with 32.7 seconds to go. Erik Karlsson found Kovalev near the net with a slap-pass, and he redirected the puck past Caps netminder Jose Theodore for the game-winner.
Jason Spezza collected two goals and two assists -- his second four-point game of the season -- and Brian Elliott made 17 stops as Ottawa posted its fifth consecutive win and strengthened its hold on fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings.
The Senators are looking for only one more standings point over their final five games to clinch a playoff berth.
Alexander Semin tallied twice for Washington as the Capitals lost their third straight and failed to equal a franchise record with 50 wins.
