Phaneuf scores as Senators tie series
OTTAWA, Ontario — Dion Phaneuf waited a long time for this moment.
Phaneuf set up two goals before scoring at 1:59 of overtime and the Ottawa Senators rallied past the Boston Bruins 4-3 on Saturday.
The Senators tied their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series 1-1 and Game 3 is Monday night in Boston.
Phaneuf, a 12-year veteran, scored the winner from the point as Alex Burrows provided a screen.
“It feels great to do it here in front of our fans, it’s just incredible,” Phaneuf said. “I’ve played a long time and this is my first overtime winner and it feels great. I tried to get as much on it and luckily it found a way through.”
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 had rallied from a 3-1 deficit with a twogoal third period to force overtime.
Ottawa scored twice in a span of 2:20 to tie the game.
“It’s disappointing. Generally we’re pretty good at closing out games,” Bruins Coach Bruce Cassidy said.
Wideman made it 3-2 with a shot from the point and Brassard, off a great pass from Erik Karlsson, tied the game at 7:48 on a one-timer.
“The second period we didn’t really come out the way that we wanted and we needed a response and I think that we definitely gave them that in the third,” Karlsson said.
“That’s the way that we’re going to have to play if we’re going to beat these guys. They’re not going to give up. They’re a good team even if though they’re battling some injuries.
“It was definitely nice that
we responded the way that we did.”
PREDATORS 5, BLACKHAWKS 0
CHICAGO — Pekka Rinne made 30 saves in his second consecutive shutout and picked up two assists, helping the Nashville Predators pound the Chicago Blackhawks for a 2-0 lead in their firstround 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 night.
Ryan Ellis, Harry Zolnierczyk, Colton Sissons and Kevin Fiala each scored their first career playoff goal. Game 3 is Monday night in Nashville. Chicago Coach Joel Quenneville shuffled his lineup, inserting rookie Vinnie Hinostroza and Dennis Rasmussen and benching veteran Jordin Tootoo and John Hayden. But it was more of the same for the Blackhawks, who once again looked out of sync against the Predators’ active defense.
MAPLE LEAFS 4, CAPITALS 3, 2OT
WASHINGTON — Kasperi Kapanen scored his second goal of the game 11:53 into the second overtime and Frederik Andersen made 47 saves and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Washington Capitals in Game 2 to even the first-round series.
Kapanen also scored in regulation for Toronto along with James van Riemsdyk and Morgan Rielly, and Andersen made several big stops to keep the Maple Leafs alive.
Alex Ovechkin, John Carlson and Nicklas Backstrom scored for the top-seeded Capitals, who are now feeling the heat going into Game 3 Monday in Toronto. Braden Holtby made 48 saves before being beaten on the overtime winner.