Washington Capitals’ Andre Burakovsky (left) and Ryan McDonagh of New York Rangers vie for the puck during the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. (AFP)
Reuters/Washington
Washington Capitals left winger Andre Burakovsky scored his first two career playoff goals in a 2-1 victory over the New York Rangers.
Burakovsky tied the score in the second period and netted the game-winner just 24 seconds into the third period on a breakaway. Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby did the rest, allowing just one goal on 29 shots to earn his sixth victory of the playoffs and give the Capitals a commanding 3-1 lead in the series.
Game Five will be played on Friday at Madison Square Garden in New York. While Burakovsky’s individual exploits made him the star of the night, the game’s most pivotal moment came with just under 12 minutes remaining in regulation when Holtby stopped Rangers left winger Carl Hagelin on a penalty shot.
Hagelin was awarded the shot after Washington defenseman Mike Green hooked him from behind and took away a scoring chance on a clean breakaway. With a chance to tie the game, Hagelin weaved in on Holtby and went forehand to backhand. But Holtby stayed with him and snatched Hagelin’s backhander with his catching glove.
The Rangers have made a habit of scoring first in the playoffs and they did it for the sixth time in nine playoff games. Center Derick Brassard finishing off a perfectly timed feed from right winger Martin St. Louis to score his team-high fifth goal of the playoffs with 6:12 gone in the second period.
Johnson strikes late to put Lightning on brink of series sweep
Center Tyler Johnson scored with 1.1 seconds left in regulation as the Tampa Bay Lightning edged the Montreal Canadiens 2-1 to take a 3-0 stranglehold on the Eastern Conference semi-final series on Wednesday night.
Johnson broke the deadlock in a game that looked destined for overtime with his eighth goal of the playoffs, taking a centering pass in front of the net and pushing it past Montreal goaltender Carey Price.
Lightning goalie Ben Bishop carried a shutout well into the third period but Montreal tied the game when right winger Brendan Gallagher, diving to the net, pushed a rebound under his pad to tie the game at 1-1 with 9:57 left.
Lightning center Alex Killorn had scored a first-period goal to give Tampa the early advantage.
With eight minutes left in the opening period, Killorn was set up with a strong entry pass from Lightning center Steven Stamkos, who picked up his sixth assist.
Tampa Bay, winners of five straight in the playoffs, can finish the series with a win at home on Thursday night.
The Canadiens had more scoring opportunities through two periods, outshooting the Lightning 8-6 in the opening period and holding them without a shot for the first 12 minutes of the second.
