Burakovsky pushes Rangers to the brink

WASHINGTON» RookieAndre Burakovsky scored his first two playoff goals and Braden Holtby saved a penalty shot, giving the Washington Capitals a 2-1 victory over the New York Rangers on Wednesday night for a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Burakovsky tied the game in the second period, then put Washington ahead 24 seconds into the third.

With 12 minutes left in regulation, Holtby — who finished with 28 saves — flicked his glove to catch Carl Hagelin’s penalty shot and preserve the lead.

The Capitals can close out the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Rangers in the best-ofseven series and advance to the conference finals for the first time in Alex Ovechkin’s career by taking Game 5 in New York on Friday night.

The Capitals won a fifth consecutive home game in the same postseason for the first time, according to STATS.

This marks the Rangers’ 11th consecutive playoff game, dating to last season, decided by one goal, extending their NHL record.

Derick Brassard put New York ahead 1-0 a little more than six minutes into the second period, with assists from Martin St. Louis and Rick Nash, neither of whom has a goal in this series.

ItwasBrassard’sfifthgoalof the postseason and second of the series — both team highs.

But New York’s lead didn’t last very long, thanks to Burakovsky, afirst-rounddraft pick in 2013 who scored nine goals in 53 games during the regular season — none since Feb. 15. Asked Tuesday about the 20-year-old’s increasingly physical play, Capitals coach Barry Trotz said: “He’ll be a 200-pound,strongyoungman in ayear or two, andhedoesn’t have that man strength yet. Hestill has that boy strength.”

Whatever the state of his physique, Burakovsky joined Evgeny Kuznetsov as a Capitals rookie making his mark on these playoffs. Kuznetsov has four goals, including the go-ahead score in Game 7 against the New York Islanders in the first round.

Late in the second period Wednesday, Burakovsky tied it, taking the puck from the right circle and powering across the ice before shooting past Henrik Lundqvist. He had a great chance to make it 2-1 with a minute left in that period when defenseman John Carlson’s pass found him all alone, but Burakovsky shot wide of the net.

ALEX BRANDON — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Washington Capitals left wing Andre Burakovsky reacts after scoring in the third period against the New York Rangers in Game 4on Wednesday.