WASHINGTON — Washington's Andre Burakovsky scored twice to lead the Capitals to a 2-1 win against the New York Rangers Wednesday, delivering a 3-1 series lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals and having a flashback to his childhood. The Capitals are one game away from a place in the East decider, and can clinch it with a win in New York Friday.
Tampa Bay is also within one win of progressing after beating Montreal with a last-gasp goal to take a 3-0 series lead.
Burakovsky remembers, back when he was 7 years old, tagging along to watch his father play in a professional hockey game in Sweden and the opposing goaltender was none other than Henrik Lundqvist.
Fast forward to Wednesday and it was the son — now barely 20 — who was up against the now veteran Rangers goalie.
Burakovsky tied the game in the second period, then put Washington ahead to stay 24 seconds into the third.
“He's been a favorite goalie of (mine) since I grew up,” Burakovsky said about his countryman Lundqvist. “I've been watching him my whole life. It's a pretty special moment.”
Not bad for a guy who scored only nine goals in the regular season — and none since Feb. 15 — and was limited to 53 games either because of injury or poor form.
Coach Barry Trotz said he told Burakovsky: “I'm not putting you back in the lineup ‘til you crack a smile again. If I see you moping around the dressing room, moping around because you're not playing, I will not put you in the lineup.”
Then, delivering the punch line, Trotz added: “And he's always got a smile on his face now.”
Washington goalie Braden Holtby finished with 28 saves and lowered his goals-against average in these playoffs to 1.48.
With 12 minutes left in regulation, Holtby flicked his glove to catch Carl Hagelin's penalty shot and preserve the lead and help the Capitals win a fifth consecutive home game in the same postseason for the first time, according to STATS.
The sold Rangers goal was scored by Derick Brassard a little more than six minutes into the second period.
Tampa Bay's Tyler Johnson scored with 1.1 seconds remaining to give the Lightning a 2-1 win against Montreal.
Johnson scored his eighth goal of the postseason off a pass from Victor Hedman in a crushing blow to the Canadiens, who tied the game midway through the third period on Brendan Gallagher's goal.
Ben Bishop stopped 30 shots for Tampa Bay, 8-0 against Montreal this season. The game appeared headed for overtime when the Lightning gathered to take one more crack at goalie Carey Price.
Hedman carried into the left circle and sent his pass through the middle just beyond defenseman P.K. Subban's stick to Johnson converging on Price from the right.
The Lightning won their fifth straight playoff game and will go for a sweep of the Eastern Conference semifinal series Thursday night in Tampa. Canada beats Sweden
Canada rallied to maintain a perfect record at the Ice Hockey World Championship by beating Sweden 6-4 Wednesday for its fourth straight victory.
In other matches, defending champion Russia bounced back from a loss to the United States with a 5-2 victory over Denmark and Latvia and Norway ended their three-game losing streaks by edging Switzerland 2-1 and Slovakia 3-2 respectively. — AP
