Sabres beat Capitals in OT with Bills' Damar Hamlin on mind

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) skates with the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Montreal Canadiens, Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Buffalo Sabres players walk towards the locker room upon arriving wearing shirts in support of Buffalo Bills football player Damar Hamlin before an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Buffalo Sabres players walk towards the locker room upon arriving wearing shirts in support of Buffalo Bills football player Damar Hamlin before an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson (72) celebrates his goal against the Washington Capitals during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates his goal against the Buffalo Sabres with defenseman Nick Jensen (3) and left wing Conor Sheary (73) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) juggles the puck during a break in the action in the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Montreal Canadiens, Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson (72) celebrates his overtime goal against the Washington Capitals with defenseman Owen Power (25) in an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Washington. This was Thompson's third goal of the night. The Sabres won 5-4. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson (72) celebrates his overtime goal in the team's NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Washington. This was Thompson's third goal of the night. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson (72) skates with the puck during overtime of the team's NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Washington. The Sabres won 5-4 in overtime. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson (72) celebrates his overtime goal - and third goal of the night - against the Washington Capitals in an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Washington. The Sabres won 5-4. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Buffalo Sabres center Tyson Jost (17) celebrates his goal with center Casey Mittelstadt (37) during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Washington. The Sabres won 5-4 in overtime. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Buffalo Sabres right wing Alex Tuch, left, celebrates his goal with center Tage Thompson, near Washington Capitals defenseman Nick Jensen (3) and center Aliaksei Protas (59) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson (72) skates with the puck past Washington Capitals defenseman Nick Jensen (3) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson (72) celebrates his overtime goal with defenseman Owen Power (25) and right wing Alex Tuch (89) in the team's NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Washington. This was Thompson's third goal of the night. The Sabres won 5-4. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)