Fast-striking Rangers even series with Caps

The Rangers needed to bounce back after a tough loss to the Capitals.

Chris Kreider didn’t need long to get them going.

Kreider scored 38 seconds into the game as the Rangers defeated the Capitals 3-2 Saturday, tying their Eastern Conference semifinal series 1-1.

“It helped us a lot to get back on track and get the building going,” said Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, who made 30 saves. “You definitely need to build up your confidence a little bit after what happened last game. That was tough. But you move on.”

The next stop is Washington for Game 3 on Monday night. The first two games have been decided by a goal apiece.

“We didn’t play good enough to win this hockey game,” Capitals coach Barry Trotz said. “The Rangers deserved to win. We didn’t play our best game.”

Dan Boyle and Derick Brassard also score for the Rangers. Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov scored for the Caps.

Ovechkin scored a spectacular goal in the third period, when the NHL’s top goal scorer got past top defensemen Dan Girardi and Ryan McDonagh and beat Lundqvist with a topshelf shot as he was falling to the ice.

“It’s just an instinct situation,” Ovechkin said.

The Rangers were looking for a response after losing Game 1 with 1.3 seconds left. Kreider came through.

“We needed to answer, and now it’s the best of five,” Kreider said.

Goalie switch: Karri Ramo will start in goal for the Flames against the Ducks in Game 2 on Sunday night.

Jonas Hiller started Game 1 but was pulled after allowing three goals on 14 shots. Ramo allowed three goals on 21 shots.

The Flames haven’t won at Anaheim since the 2006 playoffs and have lost 20 consecutive regular-season games there.

Fontaine out: Wild right wing Justin Fontaine will miss Game 2 against the Blackhawks with a groin injury. Coach Mike Yeo said he had several options, hinting Jordan Schroeder or Erik Haula would fill in.