Caps lead Hurricanes 2-0 on Orpik’s OT goal
Capitals 4, Hurricanes 3 (OT): Brooks Orpik scored less than two minutes into overtime, Alex Ovechkin had two assists and the host Washington Capitals beat the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday to give the defending Stanley Cup champions a 2-0 lead in the first-round series.
The tone was set for a wacky afternoon when a rat fell out of the ceiling during the Hurricanes’ pregame soccer match. The weird vibes lasted long after the dead rat was removed – from a questionable ejection for a check to the head to a shot off one goalie’s mask and another that went in off the other goalie’s backside.
Ovechkin assisted on goals by Nicklas Backstrom and Tom Wilson to help put Washington up two games to none in a series for just the third time in the past five years.
Predators 2, Stars 1 (OT): Craig Smith scored five minutes into overtime to give the host Nashville Predators a victory over the Dallas Stars, tying the first-round Western Conference series at 1-1.
Smith scored his first this postseason from the inside edge of the left circle to snap a three-game playoff skid on home ice for Nashville.
Rocco Grimaldi also scored for Nashville, and Pekka Rinne made 22 saves. The Predators had lost five of their last six postseason games in the place they call Smashville.
Jamie Benn scored for Dallas The Stars were outshot 43-23.
Bruins 4, Maple Leafs 1: Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron scored, Tuukka Rask stopped 30 shots and Boston beat Toronto to tie the series at one game apiece.
Two nights after Toronto beat Boston 4-1 in the opener to steal away home-ice advantage, the Bruins dominated their Atlantic Division rivals, taking a 3-0 lead with a 29-16 edge in shots on goal into the third period. Charlie Coyle and Danton Heinen also scored for the Bruins.
Nazem Kadri scored the Leafs’ only goal midway through the third.