Tavares’ OT goal lifts Islanders; Toews leads Blackhawks
UNIONDALE, N.Y. — John Tavares can be excused if the Islanders captain doesn’t recall the previous time New York won a playoff game in overtime.
“I was only 3 years old then,” Tavares said, when informed it’s been 22 years since that happened.
He’ll certainly remember this one.
After winning the overtime-opening faceoff, Tavares scored 15 seconds into the extra period to seal a 2-1 win over the Washington Capitals in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Sunday.
With the crowd chanting “MVP! MVP” Tavares provided the Islanders a 2-1 series lead.
And he became the first Islanders player to score a playoff overtime goal since David Volek did in Game 7 of a second-round 4-3 win over Pittsburgh on May 14, 1993.
New York had lost its previous six overtime playoff games.
Tavares’ score was the second-fastest playoff overtime goal in Islanders history. J.P. Parise scored in 11 seconds on April 11, 1975, in the franchise’s first postseason game decided in OT.
Game 4 is at Long Island on Tuesday.
“The best players have to be your best players if you’re going to have a chance to win a Stanley Cup,” Islanders coach Jack Capuano said of Tavares.
“Tonight, 91, was 91. He did a lot of good things for us on the ice but on the bench, too, to calm things down.”
The Islanders won by avoiding blowing a lead for a second straight game after giving up three straight goals in a 4-3 loss in Game 2 at Washington on Friday.
“Tough one to swallow right now,” Capitals goalie Braden Holtby said. “But playoffs is all about having a short memory and make sure we’re a lot bet-
ter next game.”
BLACKHAWKS 4, PREDA
TORS 2: In Chicago, Jonathan Toews had a goal and an assist, and the Blackhawks used a three-goal second period to beat Nashville for a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series.
Marian Hossa had two assists and Scott Darling made 35 saves to help Chicago win for the 20th time in its last 24 postseason home games. Brandon Saad, Brent Seabrook and Andrew Desjardins also scored in an impressive response by the Blackhawks after Friday night’s 6-2 loss in Nashville.
Darling, a native of the Chicago suburb of Lemont, made his first postseason start after Corey Crawford was ineffective in the first two games of the series. The rookie also replaced Crawford in Game 1 and made 42 saves as the Blackhawks rallied for a 4-3 victory in double overtime.
Mike Ribeiro and Mattias Ekholm scored for Nashville, and Pekka Rinne had 26 saves.
The Predators’ convincing victory in Game 2 led Chicago coach Joel Quenneville to try a different look for the Blackhawks’ first home game of the playoffs. Darling was in goal, and forwards Antoine Vermette and Desjardins entered the lineup after they were healthy scratches for the first two games.
The Predators were without star defenseman Shea Weber and forward Mike Fisher, who were sidelined by lower-body injuries. Fisher is day to day, but Weber did not travel with the team to Chicago and likely will be out for Game 4 on Tuesday night as well.
CANADIENS 2, SENATORS
1 (OT): In Ottawa, Ontario, Dale Weise scored the tying goal late in the third period and then won it 8:47 into overtime, leading Montreal to a victory in the first-round playoff series.
Montreal has a chance to complete a four-game sweep Wednesday, with Game 4 in Ottawa.
Weise skated in on the left side and beat Craig Anderson with a shot inside the near post. Many of the Senators fans in the stands urged officials to call for a hand pass by Brandon Prust on the play, but the goal stood — and the Canadiens have a commanding lead.
“I don’t know if you can call me (clutch) yet,” said Weise, who also had an overtime winner in the playoffs last year against Tampa Bay. “I thought I had some good chances early in the series and just couldn’t put them in — a couple of 2-on-1s and hit posts. I don’t know what it is, just every game gets so intense, you’re so focused.”
Weise sent the game to overtime with his goal with 5:47 remaining in the third. Torrey Mitchell assisted on both goals, and Carey Price made 33 saves.
FLAMES 4, CANUCKS 2: In Calgary, Alberta, TJ Brodie had a goal and an assist, and the Flames beat Vancouver to take a 2-1 lead in their firstround playoff series.
Brandon Bollig, Sam Bennett and Sean Monahan also scored for the Flames, who host Game 4 on Tuesday night.
Shawn Matthias and Jannik Hansen had goals for the Canucks.
Calgary’s Jonas Hiller and Vancouver’s Eddie Lack each stopped 23 shots.