WASHINGTON — Nicklas Backstrom had a goal and two assists, and Alex Ovechkin scored once, leading the Washington Capitals and fill-in goalie Philipp Grubauer past the New York Islanders 4-3 Friday night to even their first-round playoff series at a game each. After Washington's two stars — Ovechkin led the NHL in goals, Backstrom was No. 1 in assists — were reunited on the top line, both scored to erase a 3-1 deficit. Jason Chimera netted the go-ahead goal with 12 1/2 minutes left. It was the first time the Capitals had led in the series, which moves to New York for Game 3 Sunday. Grubauer was called up from the minors Friday to replace starting goalie Braden Holtby, who was ill. Grubauer, a 23-year-old from Germany, made 18 saves. Canadiens 3, Senators 2 (OT): Alex Galchenyuk scored on a spin-around shot 3:40 into overtime, leading Montreal past the Ottawa Senators and giving the Canadiens a 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series. Max Pacioretty, back from a concussion that sidelined him in Game 1, and P.K. Subban scored in regulation for the Canadiens, while David Desharnais picked up an assist on each. Clarke MacArthur and Patrick Wiercioch scored for the Senators, and Mark Stone added two assists. Carey Price stopped 29 shots for Montreal, while Ottawa's Andrew Hammond made 37 saves. Game 3 is Sunday in Ottawa. Predators 6, Blackhawks 2: Overcoming a game-ending injury to their best player midway through the second period, the Nashville Predators equaled their first round series against the Chicago Blackhawks. Predators defenseman Shea Weber left with a lower-body injury early in the second period, but it didn't matter after the team blew the game open with three goals in a 2:19 span late in the third period. Craig Smith scored twice for Nashville and added an assist. Patrick Sharp and Patrick Kane netted for Chicago. Game Three is Sunday in Chicago. Canucks 4, Flames 1: The Vancouver Canucks used a dominating first period to build a lead then rode the goaltending of Eddie Lack to defeat the Calgary Flames and even their Western Conference first round series 1-1. Daniel Sedin and Chris Higgins scored on the power play, and Ronalds Kenins scored for the Canucks. Alex Burrows had two assists as Vancouver snapped a seven-game, home-ice losing streak in the playoffs. Defenseman Kris Russell scored Calgary's lone goal. Lack stopped 22 shots. One of his best saves came in the third period when he shot out his leg to stop Johnny Gaudreau. The save prompted chants of “Eddie, Eddie” from the crowd. The series now moves to Calgary for Game Three Sunday. Flyers fire coach Berube The Philadelphia Flyers have fired head coach Craig Berube after the team failed to make the playoffs, the National Hockey League club said Friday. Berube had been the Flyers coach for two seasons, compiling a 75-58-28 record. They made the playoffs his first season, but missed out this season by 14 points as they finished sixth in the Metropolitan Division. He is the third NHL coach to be fired since the conclusion of the regular season last Saturday, joining Buffalo's Ted Nolan and Toronto's Peter Horachek. Berube had been an assistant with Philadelphia for six seasons before gaining the top job three games into the 2013 campaign when the Flyers replaced Peter Laviolette. Overall, Berube has spent 18 seasons with the franchise as a player, assistant and coach. The team hopes to name a replacement before June 15-17 NHL Entry Draft in Sunrise, Florida. — Agencies
