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Capitals bury Rangers to clinch series
Source: Agencies |
April 25, 2011, Monday
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LED by Alex Ovechkin, the Washington Capitals dumped the New York Rangers 3-1 in Game 5 on Saturday to advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs and bury memories of last year's postseason collapse.
While Capitals fans were breathing a sigh of relief, nerves were jangling in Pittsburgh after the Penguins were zapped 2-8 by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
With the Penguins unable to clinch the best-of-seven quarterfinal action now shifts to Florida for Game 6 with the Lightning having trimmed the Pittsburgh advantage to 3-2.
The Boston Bruins also grabbed a 3-2 series lead over the Montreal Canadiens when Nathan Horton scored 9:03 into double overtime to lift the hosts to a dramatic 2-1 win.
After dropping the opening two games of the series, the Bruins have stormed back to win three straight and take control with Game 6 scheduled in Montreal.
Horton's goal decided what had been a riveting goaltending duel, Bruins' Tim Thomas, a Vezina Trophy finalist as the National Hockey League's top netminder, facing 45 shots while Canadiens' Carey Price was no less brilliant handling a playoff career-high 51.
Bruins Brad Marchand broke open a scoreless contest early in the third sweeping home a rebound past Price but Jeff Halpern would answer for the Canadiens later in the period sending the contest to overtime.
An inspired Ovechkin set up Washington's first goal then scored the second as the Capitals wrapped up their series 4-1 to join the Detroit Red Wings in the second round.
"Today was his (Ovechkin) best game, easily," praised Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau.
"And I mean complete.
"The other games he had flashes of brilliance. Today, he was very visible. He was on the ice doing the right things."
A year ago, the top-seeded Capitals had been in the same commanding position, leading the Canadiens 3-1 before suffering one of the most stunning collapses in the Stanley Cup playoffs, losing three straight to be bounced from the opening round.
In San Jose, the Los Angeles Kings avoided elimination with a 3-1 win over the San Jose Sharks, trimming their series deficit to 3-2.
While Capitals fans were breathing a sigh of relief, nerves were jangling in Pittsburgh after the Penguins were zapped 2-8 by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
With the Penguins unable to clinch the best-of-seven quarterfinal action now shifts to Florida for Game 6 with the Lightning having trimmed the Pittsburgh advantage to 3-2.
The Boston Bruins also grabbed a 3-2 series lead over the Montreal Canadiens when Nathan Horton scored 9:03 into double overtime to lift the hosts to a dramatic 2-1 win.
After dropping the opening two games of the series, the Bruins have stormed back to win three straight and take control with Game 6 scheduled in Montreal.
Horton's goal decided what had been a riveting goaltending duel, Bruins' Tim Thomas, a Vezina Trophy finalist as the National Hockey League's top netminder, facing 45 shots while Canadiens' Carey Price was no less brilliant handling a playoff career-high 51.
Bruins Brad Marchand broke open a scoreless contest early in the third sweeping home a rebound past Price but Jeff Halpern would answer for the Canadiens later in the period sending the contest to overtime.
An inspired Ovechkin set up Washington's first goal then scored the second as the Capitals wrapped up their series 4-1 to join the Detroit Red Wings in the second round.
"Today was his (Ovechkin) best game, easily," praised Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau.
"And I mean complete.
"The other games he had flashes of brilliance. Today, he was very visible. He was on the ice doing the right things."
A year ago, the top-seeded Capitals had been in the same commanding position, leading the Canadiens 3-1 before suffering one of the most stunning collapses in the Stanley Cup playoffs, losing three straight to be bounced from the opening round.
In San Jose, the Los Angeles Kings avoided elimination with a 3-1 win over the San Jose Sharks, trimming their series deficit to 3-2.
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