Alex Tuch Scores Twice Against His Former Team, Including the Overtime Winner, as the Capitals Beat the Sabres 4-3

Alex Tuch got his revenge. In his first game against the Buffalo Sabres since leaving them in a June sign-and-trade, Tuch scored twice, including the winner at 3:42 of overtime, as the Washington Capitals rallied for a 4-3 win at Capital One Arena on Saturday night. Dylan Strome also scored twice, and Charlie Lindgren made 18 saves. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 30 saves for Buffalo in the loss.

The goals were Tuch's sixth and seventh of the season, and his fit in Washington is one of the early fantasy success stories of the year.

How the game unfolded

Buffalo jumped out early. Jack Quinn and Josh Doan scored to put the Sabres up 2-0, and the Capitals looked flat for much of the first period. Tuch cut the lead to 2-1 late in the opening frame with a goal that came off a deflection; reports differ on whether it went off Tage Thompson's stick, but it counted the same.

Strome then took over the second period, scoring twice to give Washington a 3-2 lead. Buffalo answered early in the third when Noah Ostlund tied it, and the game went to overtime, where Tuch finished it with assists from Strome and Jakob Chychrun.

The table below captures the key fantasy lines from the game.

Tuch in Washington

Tuch spent five seasons in Buffalo, where he grew up as a Syracuse native and became a fan favorite, before the sign-and-trade sent him to Washington in June. His production so far suggests the move has been good for his fantasy value. Seven goals in the season's opening weeks put him among the more productive wingers in the league, and his role in the Capitals' top six gives him consistent ice time and power-play exposure.

The chemistry with Strome is the key detail. Strome assisted on the overtime winner, and the two have formed a productive pairing that drives Washington's offense. Strome, a playmaking center, gets more valuable when his wingers finish, and Tuch is finishing.

Coach Spencer Carbery and Lindgren both praised Tuch after the game, and the Capitals clearly view him as a central piece of their offense. For fantasy, that translates into a stable role, which is the most valuable thing a winger can have.

Fantasy fallout

Tuch is a weekly start in all formats. His combination of goals, shots and physical play makes him valuable in leagues that count hits as well as scoring, and his power-play role raises his floor. If a manager in your league still sees him as a mid-tier winger based on past seasons, he is worth a trade inquiry.

Strome is a strong start in points leagues. His assist totals are tied to his wingers, and with Tuch producing, Strome's value rises with him.

Lindgren is a matchup goalie. Eighteen saves in a win is fine, but Washington's goaltending role is shared, and Lindgren's value depends on starts. He is a streaming option on nights when the Capitals face weak offenses.

For Buffalo, Luukkonen was the best player on the ice for long stretches, and 30 saves in an overtime loss is a solid fantasy line, especially in leagues that count saves. Quinn and Doan both scored and are worth monitoring as streaming options; Ostlund's tying goal is another sign of a young forward getting more involved.

Buffalo's problem

The Sabres led 2-0 and could not hold it, and the shot totals explain why: Luukkonen faced 34 shots to Lindgren's 21, so Washington controlled play for most of the night after the first period. For a team trying to establish itself in a competitive division, losing a game it led early is costly, though the overtime point helps. Luukkonen kept Buffalo in it, and that is the most encouraging fantasy sign for the Sabres from Saturday.

Betting angle

Washington's comeback on Saturday came from sustained pressure rather than luck, and the Capitals' top six, led by Tuch and Strome, is capable of scoring in bunches. Buffalo spent most of the game defending, which makes its early leads fragile. That is a pattern worth tracking for live bettors: when the Sabres jump ahead but are losing the shot battle, the price on a comeback can be worth a look.

Verdexed's daily NHL picks are published at /blog/nhl-picks-2026-10-25 for Sunday's slate, and the model's ongoing board is on /nhl/predictions. Confirmed starting goaltenders remain the most important daily input, so check the board after morning skates.

What to do in your league

Start Tuch and Strome every night. Chychrun remains a strong defenseman option, especially in points leagues where his power-play work matters. Use Lindgren as a streamer when the matchup is right. On the Buffalo side, Luukkonen is a start in leagues that reward saves, and Quinn and Doan are worth monitoring on the waiver wire.

What's next

Tuch's hot start is the story to watch in Washington. If he sustains this pace, he becomes one of the better fantasy wingers of the season and one of the best value picks from draft day. For Buffalo, the question is whether a team that dominates stretches of games can learn to close them. For fantasy managers, the action is clear: start Tuch and Strome, monitor Lindgren's workload, and keep an eye on Buffalo's young forwards as streaming options.