Nicklas Backstrom buried the game-winner in the third round of the shootout to send the Washington Capitals to a 3-2 win over the San Jose Sharks on Saturday at SAP Center.
After San Jose's Logan Couture came up empty to open the shootout, Evgeny Kuznetsov beat Antti Niemi blocker side to put the Caps on top.
The next two shooters then missed, but Patrick Marleau extended the skills competition by slipping a wrister under Braden Holtby's pads.
However, Backstrom lifted a backhander over Niemi's glove at the other end, as Washington snapped an 0-11-1 skid at San Jose.
Eric Fehr and Chris Brown scored in regulation, while Holtby stopped 34 shots for the Capitals, who kept pace with the Red Wings for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Both teams have 79 points, one better than the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Marleau and James Sheppard scored for the Sharks, who saw Niemi make 23 saves in the loss, their second in the last three games.
[SportsNetwork.com]
