Alex Ovechkin scored two goals, including the winner in overtime, to lift the Washington Capitals to a 3-2 victory over the visiting Montreal Canadiens in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series on Monday.
It was Ovechkin’s first career playoff overtime goal. He also notched an assist for Washington, which squandered a two-goal lead in the third period but rallied in the extra session. Anthony Beauvillier finished with a goal and an assist, and Dylan Strome logged three assists.
Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki scored for Montreal, each on an assist from Lane Hutson.
Ovechkin, 39, added another highlight to a magical season in which he surpassed Wayne Gretzky as the NHL’s all-time goal scoring leader. He sealed the series opener after the Capitals won a faceoff in the offensive zone and Beauvillier found him open in front of the net. The tally was the 74th career playoff goal for Ovechkin, who finished the regular season with 897 career goals, three more than Gretzky.
Kings 6, Oilers 5
Phillip Danault scored his second goal of the game with 41.1 seconds remaining in regulation to give host Los Angeles a wild victory over Edmonton in their Stanley Cup playoff opener.
Andrei Kuzmenko and Adrian Kempe both collected one goal and two assists while Quinton Byfield and Kevin Fiala both registered one goal and one assist for the Kings. Goaltender Darcy Kuemper made 20 saves for the Kings, who held a 4-0 lead late in the second period and 5-2 edge in the third before the Oilers charged back.
Connor McDavid scored once in a four-point game for Edmonton, while Corey Perry and Leon Draisaitl each notched one goal and one assist. Mattias Janmark and Zach Hyman added a goal apiece, Evan Bouchard collected three assists, and Stuart Skinner stopped 24 shots.
Stars 4, Avalanche 3 (OT)
Colin Blackwell scored 17:46 into overtime to give Dallas a win over visiting Colorado, evening their first-round Western Conference playoff series at one victory each.
Evgenii Dadonov, Thomas Harley and Tyler Seguin scored for the Stars in regulation, and Sam Steel had two assists, including the setup for the OT tally. Jake Oettinger stopped 34 of 37 shots.
Logan O’Connor had a goal and an assist for the Avalanche. Jack Drury and Nathan MacKinnon also tallied for Colorado, and Mackenzie Blackwood made 35 saves.
Jets 2, Blues 1
Kyle Connor scored the tiebreaking goal in the third period for a second straight game to help Winnipeg to a win against visiting St. Louis in Game 2 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Mark Scheifele had a goal and an assist for the Jets, who lead the series 2-0. Connor Hellebuyck made 21 saves.
Jimmy Snuggerud scored and Jordan Binnington stopped 20 shots for the Blues.
–Field Level Media
