Samsonov sharp, gives Caps edge over Panthers

Ilya Samsonov rebounded after allowing an early goal, and the Capitals bounced back Saturday in Washington to show they can very much hang with the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Florida Panthers.

Samsonov made 29 saves, Alex Ovechkin scored a power-play goal and assisted on another and the Capi- tals blew out the Panthers 6-1 in Game 3 to take a 2-1 lead in the first-round series. Game 4 is Monday in Washington.

T.J. Oshie deflected Ovechkin’s shot for one power-play goal, and Marcus Johansson, Trevor van Riemsdyk and Garnet Hathaway also scored for the Capitals. STARS 4, FLAMES 2 » Joe Pavelski scored the tying and go-ahead goals, the latter in the third period, as host Dallas took a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference first-round series over Pacific Division champion Calgary.

AVALANCHE 7, PREDATORS 3 » Gabriel Landeskog scored twice in the second period, and top-seeded Colorado took a commanding 3-0 lead with a road win in its firstround Western Conference series. Landeskog also had two assists. Nazem Kadri and Devon Toews each added a goal and an assist, and Artturi Lehkonen and Nathan MacKinnon scored a powerplay goal apiece as Colorado went 4 for 5 on the man advantage to push Nashville to the brink of elimination. Colorado goalie Darcy Kuemper hurt an eye after being struck in the face by a stick in the first period. He left the game and didn’t return, but the injury isn’t believed to be serious. Pavel Francouz replaced him and made 20 saves. PENGUINS 7, RANGERS 4» Danton Heinen’s first playoff goal in three years in the third period broke a tie and lifted host Pittsburgh, which took a 2-1 lead in their first-round Eastern Conference series.