Panarin’s overtime stunner helps edge Capitals
COLUMBUS 4, WASHINGTON 3 (OT)
WASHINGTON, D.C. Artemi Panarin scored 6:02 into overtime to give the Columbus Blue Jackets a 4-3 victory over the Washington Capitals Thursday in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series.
Panarin made an incredible individual move to drive by fellow Russian Dmitry Orlov and went backhand-to-forehand to beat Philipp Grubauer top shelf. Game 2 is Sunday in Washington. Alexander Wennberg, Thomas Vanek and Seth Jones scored in regulation and Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 27 shots for Columbus, which got two power-play goals to continue a strong trend since the trade deadline.
Wennberg left the game with an upper-body injury in the third period and didn’t return. Jones drew a penalty late in the third period, almost put the puck in his own net and tied it on the ensuing power play with 4:26 left in regulation to send the game to overtime.
Washington got two power-play goals from Evgeny Kuznetsov on Josh Anderson’s five-minute major penalty for boarding Michal Kempny and an even-strength goal on the rush in the third period by Devante Smith-Pelly. Grubauer, who got the nod over 2016 Vezina Trophy winner Braden Holtby, made 23 saves in his second career playoff start.
TAMPA BAY 5, NEW JERSEY 2
At Tampa, Fla., the Lightning got early goals from four players — none of them named Nikita Kucherov or Steven Stamkos — before holding off New Jersey in Game 1.
Ondrej Palat, Tyler Johnson and Yanni Gourde scored, helping the Bolts build a 3-0 lead that New Jersey trimmed to one goal before Alex Killorn and Kucherov, who added an empty-netter, finished off the win.
Taylor Hall scored an unassisted goal in the second period, then assisted on Travis Zajac’s powerplay goal that cut it to 3-2 midway through third.
Killorn’s shot over the glove of goalie Keith Kinkaid restored a two-goal lead before Kucherov, who led the Lightning with 100 points this season, ensured there would be no comeback.
Andrei Vasilevskiy made 29 saves. Game 2 is Saturday at Amalie Arena.
The Devils won all three meetings between the teams during the regular season.
NASHVILLE 5 COLORADO 2
At Nashville, the hometown Predators spotted the Avalanche a 2-1 edge early in the second period before scoring four unanswered goals to win going away in Game 1 of their Western Conference playoff series.
Game 2 is Saturday in Nashville. Filip Forsberg scored two of the three third-period goals to pace the victory.
Colton Sissons and Austin Watson each had a goal and assist for the winners with Craig Smith adding the other.
Blake Comeau and Nikita Zadorov scored for the Avs.
Pekka Rinne made 25 saves to record the goaltending win while Jonathan Bernier made 26 saves in a losing cause.