Strong special teams play on both ends helped push the Ottawa Senators past the Washington Capitals as they won 5-4 in overtime.

Thomas Chabot scored at 1:46 of overtime and the Ottawa Senators beat the visiting Washington Capitals 5-4 on Thursday night after surrendering a two-goal third-period lead.

Facing the NHL’s top team, the Senators blew a 4-2 lead in the third period but kept their composure and defeated the Washington Capitals 5-4 in overtime. On his 28th birthday, Thomas Chabot scored the game-winner for the Sens, who earned their third consecutive victory to hold steady among the Atlantic's big three.

Those two points could prove critical as the Senators (27-20-4) continue to battle in the tightly contested Eastern Conference. Ottawa did a lot of things right on this night but