WASHINGTON — Evgeny Kuznetsov and Alex Ovechkin scored goals 27 seconds apart in the third period, and the Washington Capitals defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-2 Saturday to stay alive in their Eastern Conference semifinal.
Andre Burakovsky had a goal and an assist for Washington, who trail the defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins 3-2 in the best-of-seven series with Pittsburgh set to host Game 6 Monday.
Kuznetsov gave Washington a 3-2 lead when he beat Marc-Andre Fleury from a sharp angle at 7:20 of the third. Ovechkin, after his initial shot on the rush was blocked by Ron Hainsey, got the puck back and wristed it past Fleury for his fifth goal of the playoffs.
In 19 career games when facing elimination, Ovechkin has 10 goals and 10 assists.
Braden Holtby stopped 20 shots for Washington, while Fleury made 28 saves.
Pittsburgh took a 2-1 lead into the third period, but Washington tied it at 2:49 when Nicklas Backstrom and Burakovsky worked a give-and-go on the rush and Backstrom’s wrister beat Fleury to the far side.
As indicated by Friday’s practice, Ovechkin skated on the third line and Burkovsky moved up to the first.
Forwards Sidney Crosby and Conor Sheary of the Penguins returned five days after suffering concussions and Crosby had an assist.
Carl Hagelin gave the Penguins 1-0 lead in first period and Phil Kessel put them up 2-1 in the second.
Evgeni Malkin picked up an assist and has 17 points (four goals, 13 assists) in 10 playoff games
Washington’s Lars Eller had two assists.
Senators 5, Rangers 4 (OT): Kyle Turris scored at 6:28 of overtime to give the Ottawa Senators a come-from-behind 5-4 victory over the New York Rangers at Canadian Tire Centre.
The win gives the Senators a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semi-final series that moves to New York for Game 6 Tuesday.
Turris’ attempted first shot was blocked by a Rangers defender, but he was able to get control of the loose puck and beat goalie Henrik Lundqvist to end the game.
New York nearly won the contest two minutes earlier as Michael Grabner knocked a pass from Kevin Hayes out of mid-air at 4:12 of overtime. Officials quickly negated the tally on the basis of a high stick.
Rangers winger Jimmy Vesey scored his first goal of the playoffs with 7:12 left in regulation to snap a 3-3 deadlock on a play that needed to be reviewed. Vesey dove across the crease to swat at the puck, but it wound up in the trapper of diving goalie Craig Anderson.
However, the replay showed that Anderson’s glove was just on the other side of the goal line when he caught the puck.
As the extra attacker that jumped on the ice when Anderson rushed to the bench, former Ranger Derick Brassard sent the game into overtime with 1:26 left on the clock.
Off a scramble in front of the crease, Brassard batted the puck that went off a couple of Rangers before sliding behind Lundqvist.
Jesper Fast, Nick Holden and Ryan McDonagh had the other Rangers goals while Mark Stone, Tom Pyatt and Mike Hoffman scored for the Senators.
Lundqvist made 32 saves while Anderson stopped 29 shots. — Reuters
