Rangers top Capitals, even series at 2-2

NEW YORK — Dan Girardi and Derek Stepan scored third-period goals for the New York Rangers, who squandered a two-goal lead and then held on to get even in the best- ofseven playoff series with a 4-3 victory over the Washington Capitals on Wednesday night.

Girardi ripped a shot from above the left circle, off a feed from Derick Brassard, to give the Rangers the lead again with a power-play goal 59 seconds into the third. The advantage was created by Jason Chimera’s interference penalty at the end of the second.

Stepan made it 4- 2 at 6: 02, scoring into a wideopen net at the end of a give- and- go play in front with Carl Hagelin, who had a goal and two assists.

Game 5 will be back in Washington on Friday before the series returns to Madison Square Garden on Sunday. The home team has won all four games in the first- round Eastern Conference matchup.

Brad Richards and Hagelin staked the Rangers to a 2-0 lead, but goals by Mathieu Perreault and Troy Brouwer tied it for Washington in the second period. The Capitals closed within 4- 3 on defenseman Karl Alzner’s goal at 7:31 of the third.

Henrik Lundqvist, selected a Vezina Trophy finalist earlier Wednesday, made 27 saves.

Bruins 4, Maple Leafs 3 (OT) TORONTO — David Krejci scored his third goal of the night at 13:06 of overtime, giving the Boston Bruins a win over the Toronto Maple Leafs and a 3- 1 lead in their playoff series.