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 Capitals 2, Islanders 1
Washington rookie center Evgeny Kuznetsov scored the winning goal in
a Game Seven decider as the Capitals battled to a 2-1 victory over
the New York Islanders to advance from a thrilling Eastern
Conference first round playoff series.
Kuznetsov, who five months ago had trouble holding down a place in
the Capitals lineup, proved to be the secret weapon against the
Islanders, notching a team-high three goals across the seven games
of the series.
After the teams traded tallies in a tense game, Kuznetsov weaved
through two Islanders defenders before ripping a wrist shot over New
York goaltender Jaroslav Halak with 7:18 remaining in the third
period.
The Capitals advance to face the Rangers in the playoffs for a third
time in four years and will be seeking revenge after New York
eliminated Washington in seven games in 2012 and 2013.
Madison Square Garden is likely to host Game One of the series on
Thursday.
Right winger Joel Ward also scored for the Capitals, while center
Frans Nielsen netted the lone goal for New York.
- - -
Lightning 5, Red Wings 2
Center Tyler Johnson scored twice as the Tampa Bay Lightning forced
Game Seven of their Eastern Conference first round series with a 5-2
victory over the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena.
Center Alex Killorn, defenseman Jason Garrison and center Cedric
Paquette also scored for Tampa Bay. Right winger Nikita Kucherov had
three assists and goaltender Ben Bishop made 22 saves.
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Left winger Tomas Tatar had two goals for Detroit while goalie Petr
Mrazek stopped 23 shots.
Tatar brought the Red Wings to within 3-2 early in the third period
with his second goal of the game but Killorn scored with a little
more than five minutes remaining to restore the two-goal cushion. It
was his second goal of the playoffs.
Paquette added an empty-netter in the final minute to complete the
scoring.
Game Seven is in Tampa Bay on Wednesday. (Editing by Cameron French)
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