NHL playoffs: Capitals beat Rangers in OT t..

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Washington • The Washington Capitals were right on pace for another playoff collapse. They'd already blown a two-game lead. They gave up a goal in the first minute of pivotal Game 5. They couldn't stay out of the penalty box.

But they shut out the New York Rangers the rest of the night. They got a goal from Joel Ward to tie the game. They kept peppering Henrik Lundqvist, who denied league MVP candidate Alex Ovechkin nine times.

Then, at 9:24 of overtime, Mike Ribeiro scored his first playoff goal in five years. The Capitals had a 2-1 win over the Rangers. Series lead restored. Momentum regained. Doubts erased — for at least another couple of days.

"Obviously just kind of got the nerves out there at the start," said Ward, who scored in the second period, "and fed off the crowd for the game. You know, we executed a couple times, got some chances and so did they, but we were fortunate to bury the last one."

Maple Leafs 2, Bruins 1 • In Boston, Tyler Bozak and Clarke MacArthur scored and James Reimer stopped 43 shots to help Toronto stay alive.

Red Wings 4, Ducks 3 (OT) • In Detroit, Henrik Zetterberg scored his second goal 1:04 into overtime, lifting Detroit over Anaheim to extend the series.

Kings 2, Blues 1 • In Los Angeles, Dustin Penner scored the tiebreaking goal in the final second of the second period as Los Angeles advanced to the second round with the victory. —

Schedule

Friday

• Toronto 2, Boston 1

Bruins lead series 3-2

• Washington 2, N.Y. Rangers 1 (OT)

Captials lead series 3-2

• Detroit 4, Anaheim 3 (OT)

Series tied 3-3

• Los Angeles 2, St. Louis 1

Kings win series 4-2

Saturday

• Pittsburgh at N.Y. Islanders, 5 p.m., NBCSN

Penguins lead series 3-2

NHL playoffs: Capitals beat Rangers in OT to take 3-2 series lead