Leafs draw even with Caps in double OT
Canadiens in New York for Game 3 against Rangers tonight
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Maple Leafs didn’t let another opportunity get away in Game 2.
Kasperi Kapanen scored two goals, including the winner 12 minutes into double overtime as Toronto evened up its best-ofseven series with Washington at a game apiece with a 4-3 victory on Saturday night.
Morgan Rielly and James van Riemsdyk also potted goals while Frederik Andersen stood tall again with 47 saves in a game that also saw Roman Polak exit with injury. Jake Gardiner and Rielly both played over 40 minutes in his absence.
The Leafs led 3-2 with just over seven minutes left in regulation when Nicklas Backstrom tied it 3-3 for the Capitals. The club also had a 2-0 first-period lead slip away two nights earlier in a Game 1 overtime defeat. They ultimately rallied for their first post-season victory since May 12, 2013.
Alex Ovechkin and John Carlson managed power-play goals for Washington and Braden Holtby gave up four goals on 51 shots.
The Leafs will be feeling plenty confident when they host Game 3 at the Air Canada Centre on Monday. Doubt will likely be on the minds of the Caps, given their Stanley Cup aspirations this spring and years of playoff disappointment.
Fast-starters in Game 1, it was the Leafs who were under siege early in Game 2. Washington looked like the Presidents’ Trophy winners — puck-hungry, physical and continually on the attack. The Caps held the Leafs without a shot for the first 11 minutes, buoyed by a charged crowd, which was given small red cowbells before the game.
It was more persistent possession of the puck in the Toronto end than scoring chances galore for the hometown Caps, even after a power play 21 seconds in. Andersen still needed to come up big though, stopping a dangerous Lars Eller attempt and then denying Brett Connolly, with maybe his best save of the period, on a partial breakaway.
The 27-year-old, who was mostly sharp if still error-prone in Game 1 (three goals, 44 shots), managed to keep the Leafs in front until they gained some momentum and scored the first goal. Van Riemsdyk got it with two and a half minutes to go in the first, the beneficiary of some strong puck work by Gardiner.
Almost half the first frame was special-teams play, with six minors called, including embellishment on Ovechkin, who finished with nine shots.
It was the Capitals captain who evened the score with the first of two power-play goals for Washington less than four minutes into the second. T.J. Oshie came up with a loose puck in the left corner — three Leafs there battling for it — and fed it out to Ovechkin, who quickly fired between the pads of Andersen.
Martin Marincin was in the box for whacking Eller in retaliation for a shove to the face.
The Leafs had a strong push after the goal, but it was the Caps who struck next on a blue-line blast from Carlson, with Washington on another power play — this one with Connor Carrick in the box for an apparent high-stick.
A short while later a scary collision with Brooks Orpik knocked Polak from the game. The 30-yearold banged legs with Orpik and landed awkwardly on his right leg. He yelped in pain and had to be helped off the ice and into the dressing room.
Toronto was already playing without top minute-eater Nikita Zaitsev, who could be back for Game 3.
Undeterred, Kapanen evened it up at two on the shift after Polak’s injury. The Leafs then took back the lead with on a power play of their own with 13 seconds left in the second as Rielly fired a seeingeye shot through traffic.
As was evident in the opener, the Leafs — nine of whom were playing in their first NHL postseason — seemed comfortable in the intense playoff terrain, even against a heavily favoured opponent loaded with experience.
The whirlwind second period ultimately concluded with four goals, four minor penalties, one injured defenceman and plenty of jeering between the Leafs and Caps.
Remaining quiet to that point after a pointless playoff debut in Game 1 was Auston Matthews. Prior to the game, Leafs coach Mike Babcock advised Matthews to just remain patient, “keep doing the right things and don’t deviate.”
Matthews came on as the game evolved and finished with four shots and 10 attempts, his line the Leafs best in terms of possession.
The Leafs were holding their own with the 3-2 lead until they got pinned in their end during the back half of the third. After Gardiner’s clearing attempt failed to get out, Dmitry Orlov sent a point pass to Backstrom. Gardiner got a stick on it, but not enough as the Swedish centre tucked it in to tie it up at 3-3.
Toronto dropped 10 games when leading after two periods during the regular season (31-1-9).
Andersen had to make a number of big saves in the waning moments of regulation as the Leafs just hung on for overtime. The Capitals had 31 even-strength shot attempts in the third period.
Both teams came up empty in a spirited first overtime, Ovechkin even denied on a breakaway with 27 seconds left. The Leafs were rotating four defencemen for most of the extra time with Marincin and Matt Hunwick also both logging heavy ice-time.
Senators 4, Bruins 3, OT
OTTAWA — Dion Phaneuf scored at 1:59 of overtime and Ottawa rallied for a victory over Boston.
The Senators rallied from a 3-1 deficit with a two-goal third period to force overtime. The Eastern Conference series is tied 1-1 and Game 3 is Monday night in Boston.
Clarke MacArthur, Chris Wideman and Derick Brassard also scored for the Senators and Craig Anderson made 26 saves.
Drew Stafford, Tim Schaller and Patrice Bergeron scored for the Bruins. Tuukka Rask stopped 25 shots.
The Senators started the overtime with the man advantage as the Bruins took a delay of game penalty with 12.5 seconds remaining in regulation.
Trailing 3-1 to start the third, the Senators scored twice in a span of 2:20 to tie the game.
Predators 5, Blackhawks 0
CHICAGO — Pekka Rinne made 30 saves in his second straight shutout and picked up two assists, helping Nashville pound Chicago for a 2-0 lead in the first-round playoff series.
Ryan Johansen had a goal and two assists as Nashville added a dominant performance to its taut 1-0 victory in Game 1 on Thursday.
Ryan Ellis, Harry Zolnierczyk, Colton Sissons and Kevin Fiala each scored their first career playoff goal.
Game 3 is Monday in Nashville.
NEW YORK — Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher hopes he and his linemates can carry their momentum over to Game 3 against the New York Rangers.
Gallagher, Paul Byron and Tomas Plekanec made a major impact in Montreal’s Game 2 overtime win over the Rangers to even their Eastern Conference quarterfinal at a game apiece.
Game 3 is at Madison Square Garden tonight, and Gallagher feels they need to be just as effective on the road.
“We weren’t great in Game 1. We were able to sit down and talk about it but we came back with a pretty good effort in Game 2 and I think that’s been important, building that chemistry,” said Gallagher.
“We know going forward we’re going to have to play well to have success. Having that chemistry is a big step in the right direction.”
The trio combined for two goals, two assists and 15 shots on goal in the Game 2 victory, with Plekanec’s marker in the dying seconds of the third period forcing overtime.
“It all starts with [Plekanec]. He was awesome in the face-off centre last game, obviously scored a big goal. But all the little things he does: always in the right position, tough for guys to play against,” said Gallagher. “With Paul’s speed he puts defenders on their heels, another smart player. I think the three of us just work well together.”
Through the first two games, Montreal has outshot New York 89-68.
The teams were credited with 31 shots each in Game 1. In Game 2, Montreal outshot New York 58-38, including 18-9 in the third period and 13-8 in the overtime. The Rangers aided Montreal by going into a defensive shell in the third period in order to protect their 3-2 lead, which was a major factor in their 4-3 overtime defeat.
“I feel like it always happens in hockey, when a team sits back and the other team’s down. They can take a few chances offensively,” Nash said prior to the Rangers’ flight back to New York Saturday morning.
The Rangers were 17 seconds away from leaving Montreal with a 2-0 series lead, almost entirely due to the play of Henrik Lundqvist.
Lundqvist has a .955 save percentage after the first two games of the series. He recorded his franchise-record setting 10th shutout in New York’s 2-0 win in Game 1.
“Certainly we could be better,” Ryan McDonagh said.
New York compiled a 21-16-4 record at the Garden during the regular season, which was the worst home record for all of the teams in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Montreal’s 23-14-4 road record was fifth best in the NHL.
“I don’t think it has anything to do with our mindset,” Jeff Petry said about switching from home to the road. “The first two games we had strong starts and we need to continue to have that approach.”
Montreal coach Claude Julien said he would announce any potential lineup changes today before adding an illness has “been going around” the team. Julien also said defenceman Alexei Emelin is “going to start skating” and is categorized as “day-to-day.”