THE PLAYOFF SKINNY

PHILADELPHIA 2 WASHINGTON 0

CAPITALS LEAD SERIES 3-2

Michal Neuvirth made a playoff career-high 44 saves and the Philadelphia Flyers beat the Washington Capitals 2-0 in Game 5 on Friday night to stay alive in their first-round series. Neuvirth was dominant, carrying the team on his shoulders and blunting Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals’ every charge to cut the series deficit to 3-2 and send it back to Philadelphia for Game 6 on Sunday. Ryan White scored the winner for the Flyers against Braden Holtby, with the puck deflecting in off Washington defenceman Taylor Chorney.

NEW YORK 2 FLORIDA 1

2OT

ISLANDERS LEAD SERIES 3-2

Alan Quine’s power-play goal at exactly 16 minutes of the second overtime gave the New York Islanders a 2-1 victory over the Florida Panthers Friday night in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference quarter-final series. Thomas Greiss stopped 47 shots for the Islanders. They lead the series 3-2 and can wrap it up with a win in Game 6 in New York on Sunday. Roberto Luongo made 40 saves for Florida, which missed a penalty shot in the first overtime and was whistled for two penalties in the second overtime.

MINNESOTA 5 DALLAS 4 OT

STARS LEAD SERIES 3-2

Mikko Koivu redirected Ryan Suter’s shot from the left point 4:55 into overtime and the Minnesota Wild beat the Dallas Stars 5-4 on Friday night to stay alive in their first-round series. Koivu scored the last two goals for the Wild, who go home down 3-2 in the best-of-seven series. Jason Spezza and Alex Goligoski scored goals 28 seconds apart almost midway through the third period, giving the Stars their first lead on the game. But the Wild forced overtime when Koivu went top shelf for the tying goal with 3:09 left in regulation.

SAN JOSE 6 LOS ANGELES 3

SHARKS WIN SERIES 4-1

Joonas Donskoi broke a tie with his second goal early in the third period, and the San Jose Sharks blew a three-goal lead before rallying to wrap up their first-round playoff series with a 6-3 victory over the Los Angeles Kings in Game 5 on Friday night. Chris Tierney and Matt Nieto scored early goals and Joe Pavelski got another late score for the Sharks, who stared down the demons of their past playoff failures against Los Angeles and advanced to the second round for just the second time since 2011.