Golden Knights keep on finding ways to win

Perseverance paid off the Alex Tuch and the Vegas Golden Knights. Tuch scored the go-ahead goal with 5:12 remaining, and the Golden Knights defeated the Washington Capitals 4-3 Sunday in a matchup of division leaders.

Vegas rallied three times from one-goal deficits to beat Washington for the second time this season.

“We never gave up. I thought we played our best game in two weeks, I really did, even though we were behind most of the (day),” Golden Knights coach Gerard Gallant said. “It was only a one-goal lead every time, so we kept battling and we worked hard and that’s something our team has done all year long.”

On Tuch’s shot from in close, Capitals goalie Philipp Grubauer tied to corral the loose puck, but knocked it into the net with his catching hand. Washington challenged the play for goaltender interference, but the goal stood.

“We were working hard down low and getting a lot of good opportunities,” Tuch said. It was Tuch’s first tally since Jan. 5, snapping an 11-game stretch without a goal.

Nicklas Backstrom gave Metropolitan Division-leading Washington a 3-2 lead 52 seconds into the third period. Reilly Smith tied it when he scored his second goal of the game on a wrist shot from the left circle at 9:21.

Marc-Andre Fleury, who had consecutive shutouts against Washington coming in, stopped 20 shots.

Ryan Carpenter had a goal and an assist for the Golden Knights, leaders of the Pacific Division.

Matt Niskanen had a goal and an assist for Washington. Chandler Stephenson scored his third goal in his last three games after netting two in his first 36.

Both teams were coming off three-goal losses on Friday night. The Golden Knights improved to 3-1 so far on their six-game trip.

“They’ve got an unwavering belief that they’re going to find a way to get a puck,” Capitals coach Barry Trotz said.