Maple Leafs trip Capitals in overtime
Tyler Bozak scored 1: 37 into overtime to cap a comeback from two goals down in the second period, and the Toronto Maple Leafs slipped past the visiting Washington Capitals 4- 3 on Monday to take a 2- 1 lead in their Eastern Conference first- round series. Game 4 is scheduled for Wednesday in Toronto.
Auston Matthews and Nazem Kadri each had a goal and an assist for the Maple Leafs, who trailed 2- 0 in the first period and 3- 1 early in the second before Kadri and William Nylander scored 4: 07 apart to tie the score in the final minute of the period.
Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Evgeny Kuznetsov scored for the Presidents’ Trophywinning Capitals, who scored twice in the first five minutes but managed little offense after that.
All three games of the series have been decided in overtime.
The Maple Leafs were hosting their first playoff game in almost four years and were coming off an exciting double- overtime victory in Game 2 on Saturday in Washington.
But the Capitals got the early jump by scoring twice in the first five minutes, with both goals coming from their vaunted top line of Ovechkin, Backstrom and T. J. Oshie.
Nate Schmidt, who was filling in for an injured Karl Alzner, got the first one started by rushing into the Maple Leafs’ zone before finding Backstrom crashing the net. Backstrom stuffed the puck past Maple Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen on the short side 2: 43 into the game.
Ovechkin made it 2- 0 a little more than two minutes later when his slap shot from the left faceoff circle beat Andersen.
Senators 4, Bruins 3 ( OT)
Bobby Ryan scored on a tip- in on a power play 5: 43 into overtime, and the Ottawa Senators recovered after squandering a three- goal lead to beat the host Boston Bruins and take a 2- 1 lead in their Eastern Conference firstround series. Game 4 is set for Wednesday in Boston.
Ryan got free and tipped the puck past Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask to give the Senators their second consecutive overtime victory. They also won 4- 3 in Game 2 at home Saturday.
Mike Hoffman scored twice and Derick Brassard once for the Senators, who had a 3- 0 lead early in the second period before letting it get away.
Noel Acciari, David Backes and David Pastrnak scored in the second period for the Bruins, who wiped out the deficit but couldn’t finish the job.
JacketsD- man out for season
Columbus Blue Jackets rookie defenseman Zach Werenski will miss the rest of the postseason because of a broken cheekbone.
Werenski, 19, took a puck to the face on a shot by the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Phil Kessel that opened a gash on his right cheek in the second period Sunday. He played a couple of shifts in the third period with a full facemask, but his eye swelled shut and he had to sit out the rest of the game. He tweeted a photo of his face after the game that showed his eye nearly swollen shut.
The Penguins won the game 5- 4 in overtime to open a 3- 0 lead in their Eastern Conference firstround series. Game 4 is Tuesday.