NHL roundup: Caps, Stars, Isles advance

[April 25, 2016]  The Sports Xchange
 
 PHILADELPHIA -- In a series that highlighted their offensive inefficiencies, the Philadelphia Flyers did everything they could in the final 10 minutes Sunday to change the narrative and stave off elimination for the third-straight game.

But Braden Holtby never broke.

The Washington goalie stopped all 26 shots the Flyers threw his way, including all 11 in the third period, and the Capitals escaped Wells Fargo Center with a 1-0 win after finally getting a puck past Michal Neuvirth.

Washington moves on to the second round, where the Pittsburgh Penguins await.

The Capitals finally solved Neuvirth 8:59 into the second period. Alex Ovechkin made a strong play to keep the puck in the offensive zone. The Capitals captain moved the puck to the slot to Marcus Johansson as Nicklas Backstrom camped out and readied a one-timer on the right wing. Johansson wasted no time and fed Backstrom for a 1-0 Washington lead.

Stars 5, Wild 4

SAINT PAUL, Minn. -- Dallas built a big lead and needed all of it to clinch their first-round playoff series with Minnesota.

John Klingberg, Jason Spezza, Patrick Sharp, Jamie Benn and Alex Goligoski scored and Kari Lehtonen made 25 saves as the Stars advanced past Round 1 for the first time since 2008.

The Wild got 19 saves from Devan Dubnyk, a pair of goals from Jared Spurgeon and single goals from Jonas Brodin and Jason Pominville.

Islanders 2, Panthers 1 (2OT)

NEW YORK -- John Tavares forced overtime by scoring in the final minute of regulation and then scored the game-winning goal with 9:19 left in second overtime as the New York eliminated Florida in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals at Barclays Center.

The Islanders won in overtime three times on their way to taking the series 4-2. New York will face the Tampa Bay Lightning in the conference semifinals beginning later this week.

Thomas Greiss made 41 saves for the Islanders. Jonathan Huberdeau scored in the first period for the Panthers while Roberto Luongo made 49 saves.

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