It took a big hit, a career-first NHL fight, a between-the-legs pass, and a stellar goaltending performance to get the Washington Capitals to overtime. When there, Lars Eller earned the Capitals a powerplay. Then TJ Oshie took care of the rest.

Oshie’s overtime goal gave the Capitals a 2-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets – the only team that has dominated them this season. Columbus had given Washington two of their seven regulation losses this season including their only shutout.

The Caps celebrated by converging into a giant ball of humanity in the corner and began hopping up and down together as a group.

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“I’m happy it went in,” Oshie said after the game. “I loved that third period and overtime by the fellas.”

The Capitals earned a four-on-three powerplay in overtime after Nathan Gerbe took a hooking call. It took the Caps 55 seconds to convert.

Nicklas Backstrom tried to needle a pass to John Carlson set up in Alex Ovechkin’s office for a one-timer. The intended pass missed its target. The next time Backstrom got the puck, he was aggressive and decided to shoot. Joonas Korpisalo made the initial save, but the puck popped out to Oshie who quickly put the biscuit in the basket.

We ❤️ OT wins pic.twitter.com/DPEYMchxrV

— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) December 28, 2019

“Really my job is to be in front and move to the backdoor if it feels right, which it kinda did there,” Oshie said. “They were keying on our one-timer on the right-hand side no matter if it was O or Carly. So I tried to go backdoor to give them something else to think about and Backstrom made a great play to try and sneak it five-hole. It was just sitting there for me and I banged her home.”

Oshie credited his teammates for turning the tide in the game late in the second period.

“Tom came in, made a big hit. Siegs got in a fight and I think that lifted everyone emotionally coming out for the third,” Oshie said. “We just started rolling. Lines got shuffled a little bit because of penalties and it ended up working out. We kind of just built momentum from there and kept her going. Obviously, Sammy – unbelievable job in the back end there.”

Meanwhile, Capitals head coach Todd Reirden sang Oshie’s praises after the game.

“TJ is so integral to our team success in so many different ways,” Reirden said. “Plays in all situations: end of the game – five on six, six on five, whatever it is, powerplay, penalty kill when we need him. And then the leadership he provides is off the charts. We need him for a number of reasons.”

The OTGWG was Oshie’s third as a Capital.

Full RMNB Coverage of Caps vs Blue Jackets

Headline photo: NBC Sports Washington