Capitals cruise past Islanders for 3-2 lead
Unfamiliar faces pave way in win
With some fist pumps and a punch of the glass, Washington Capitals rookie Evgeny Kuznetsov celebrated the first playoff goal of his long thought-career.
By the time the 22-year-old Russian netted his second, the crowd’s raucous chants of “We are louder!” were ringing throughout the arena as a bunch of secondary scoring put Washington on the verge of eliminating the visiting New York Islanders.
“Everybody wants to score the goal,” Kuznetsov said. “But if you do the right things, stay in the plan, all the goals, passes and Cups come. One guy never [wins] the Cup. Only [teams] win the Cup.”
Dominating despite zero points from Alex Ovechkin or Nicklas Backstrom, the Capitals beat the Islanders, 5-1, Thursday night to take a 3-2 lead in their first- round Eastern Conference series, with goals coming from lessheralded players such as Karl Alzner, Brooks Laich and Jason Chimera.
“That’s playoff time: You’re going to get a goal from someone who hasn’t scored all year,” coach Barry Trotz said, exaggerating only slightly.
Islanders goalie Jaroslav Halak was yanked with 11 minutes left after allowing five goals on 35 shots.
The Capitals can end the series by winning Game 6 Saturday at New York in what could be the Islanders’ final appearance at Nassau Coliseum before they move to Brooklyn next season.
“We know what it means to our fans. ... It just can’t be the last game for them,” defenseman Thomas Hickey said. “So we’re going to come with our heads on and be ready to play, and make sure that it’s not the last game there. We’ve got to find a way.”
The third period Thursday began with Washington ahead, only 2-1, but on its first power play of the game, thanks to Halak’s penalty for tripping Ovechkin.
Washington did not convert on the extra-man opportunity, but Laich scored 42 seconds after it ended.
“Huge,” Trotz said. “That got the ball rolling, in terms of momentum and stuff.”
And to think: The Islanders took a 1-0 lead in the first period, but Washington goalie Braden Holtby saved the other 22 shots he faced.
Other games
Lightning 3, Red Wings 2: Tyler Johnson led a stirring Tampa Bay rally late in regulation, then scored 2:25 into overtime to lift the Lightning to a win at Detroit, evening this series at 2-2. The Red Wings led, 2-0, in the third before Johnson scored with 5:26 left. He then assisted on Ondrej Palat’s tying goal 77 seconds later. Early in overtime, defenseman Victor Hedman led an odd-man rush from the right side and slid the puck across the goal mouth. It deflected ever so slightly off goalie Petr Mrazek, but Johnson was able to shoot into an open net from a tough angle for his fourth goal of the series. Gustav Nyquist and Joakim Andersson scored in the second period for Detroit. Andersson’s goal came in fluky fashion when Lightning goalie Ben Bishop knocked it in off the crossbar.
Predators 5, Blackhawks 2: Nashville scored three goals in the first 3:14 of the third period to break a 1-1 tie, Filip Forsberg capped the first postseason hat trick in team history with an empty-netter and the host Predators cut their series deficit to 3-2.
Notes
Defenseman Hal Gill retired at age 40 after 16 seasons and a Stanley Cup title. At 6 feet 7 and 243 pounds, Gill was an imposing presence on the ice and a key part of the Penguins’ 2009 championship. He also played with Boston, Toronto, Montreal, Nashville and Philadelphia. ... Calgary forward Johnny Gaudreau, Ottawa forward Mark Stone and Florida defenseman Aaron Ekblad are the Calder Trophy finalists as the NHL’s top rookie.