Caps even series with Isles
Preds rout Chicago; Habs, Canucks win
WASHINGTON — Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom helped make a winner of a rookie replacement goalie making his second start all season for the Washington Capitals.
Reunited on Washington’s top line, Backstrom delivered a goal and two assists, and Ovechkin scored once, leading the Capitals and fill-in goalie Philipp Grubauer to a 4-3 comeback victory over the New York Islanders on Friday night that evened the first-round playoff series at a game apiece.
“I didn’t want to get too hyped up,” Grubauer said. “Playoffs — I always see it on TV, and now you’re actually down there and playing the game.”
After Washington’s two stars — Ovechkin led the NHL in goals, Backstrom was No. 1 in assists — both scored to erase a 3-1 deficit, Jason Chimera netted the go-ahead goal with 12½ minutes left.
Chimera sent a wrister past Jaroslav Halak to give the hosts their first lead of the series. Chimera’s initial shot was blocked, but the puck came right back to him, and he didn’t miss on the second chance.
The series shifts to New York for Game 3 on Sunday.
Grubauer was called up from the minors Friday to replace starting goalie Braden Holtby, who was ill. Grubauer, a 23-year-old from Germany, made 18 saves, settling down after giving up goals to Cal Clutterbuck, Ryan Strome and Kyle Okposo. PREDATORS 6, BLACKHAWKS 2: In Nashville, Tenn., Craig Smith scored the first two playoff goals of his career and added an assist as Nashville beat Chicago to tie their Western Conference opening-round playoff series at a game apiece.
The Predators won for the first time since clinching a postseason berth March 28. Pekka Rinne made 24 saves for the win and even had an assist.
Filip Forsberg had a goal and an assist, and Colin Wilson, Roman Josi and Mike Santorelli each scored a goal. Nashville lost captain Shea Weber to a lower-body injury midway through the second period.
Patrick Sharp and Patrick Kane scored for Chicago, which is chasing its third Stanley Cup trophy in six years.
CANADIENS 3, SENATORS
2 (OT): In Montreal, Alex Galchenyuk scored on a spin-around shot 3:40 into overtime, leading Montreal past Ottawa and giving the Canadiens a 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series.
Max Pacioretty, back from a concussion that sidelined him in Game 1, and P.K. Subban scored
in regulation for the Canadiens. David Desharnais picked up an assist on each.
Clarke MacArthur and Patrick Wiercioch scored for the Senators, and Mark Stone added two assists.
Carey Price stopped 29 shots for Montreal, while Ottawa’s Andrew Hammond made 37 saves.
CANUCKS 4, FLAMES 1: In Vancouver, British Columbia, Eddie Lack made 22 saves as Vancouver defeated Calgary to even their first-round playoff series at a game apiece.
Daniel Sedin, Chris Higgins, Ronalds Kenins and Radim Vrbata scored for the Canucks.
Kris Russell scored late in the third period for the Flames to end Lack’s shutout bid.
Jonas Hiller made 26 saves for Calgary before giving way to Karri Ramo, who came in with 5:52 remaining in the game.
Calgary hosts Game 3 on Sunday.
Notes
FLYERS: Philadelphia general manager Ron Hextall did not ask one player for a review or recommendation at the year-end meetings on embattled coach Craig Berube.
He didn’t need any. It was time to move on after the team missed the playoffs.
The Flyers fired Berube after two seasons Friday, just the latest coach in a list four decades long who could not deliver a championship. Hextall made the announcement two days after a news conference where he left Berube’s fate in limbo.