Reuters/New York
Joel Ward scored with 1.3 seconds left to give the Washington Capitals a 2-1 victory over the New York Rangers in Game One of their Eastern Conference semi-final series at Madison Square Garden on Thursday.
Alex Ovechkin scored the opener and set up the winner when he centered the puck from behind the net to Ward, who beat Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist along the ice.
Ward’s goal was the second-latest winner in NHL playoff history. Jussi Jokinen scored with 0.2 seconds left for the Carolina Hurricanes against New Jersey Devils in 2009.
It was the second big play of the game by Ovechkin, who scored late in the first period to give the Capitals a 1-0 lead that held until the final five minutes when New York fourth-line winger Jesper Fast equalized.
Ovechkin’s goal came when he unleashed a wrist shot from the top of the left face-off circle that beat Lundqvist, who was screened on the shot, high to the stick side.
The puck was out of the net so quickly some fans were not sure it was a goal.
Ovechkin nearly made it 2-0 early in the second when his wrist shot whistled past Lundqvist but the puck rang off the crossbar.
Despite playing a key role in the winning goal, Ovechkin said he did not see it go in.
“I’ll be honest with you,” Ovechkin said. “I didn’t see what happened there on the puck. Obviously, you see them celebrating, so (I knew) it went in the net.”
Elsewhere, the Anaheim Ducks extinguished the Calgary Flames 6-1 at home in Game One of the best-of-seven Western Conference semi-final series on Thursday.
Right winger Corey Perry tied a franchise postseason record with four points as he notched two goals and two assists to give him a league-high 11 points this postseason.
Wingers Matt Beleskey, Patrick Maroon and Emerson Etem also scored for Anaheim. Center Ryan Getzlaf contributed a goal and three assists, while defenseman Hampus Lindholm added two helpers.
Rookie center Sam Bennett netted the lone Calgary goal after the Flames had already conceded six.
Frederik Andersen cruised to victory with 34 saves, while Calgary starter Jonas Hiller let in three goals before giving way to backup Karri Ramo, who surrendered three more.
It took the Ducks more than 10 minutes to score their first goal, but then the floodgates opened as they went 4-0 up midway through the second period.