Highlights of Monday's NHL games

[April 18, 2017]  April 17 (The Sports Xchange)

Leafs 4, Capitals 3

Tyler Bozak scored a power-play goal at 1:37 of overtime, and the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Washington Capitals 4-3 on Monday night to take a 2-1 lead in a first-round Eastern Conference playoff series.

All three games have gone to overtime.

Auston Matthews, Nazem Kadri and William Nylander also scored for the Maple Leafs, and Matthews added an assist. Nicklas Backstrom, Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov scored for the Capitals, who twice had two-goal leads.

The Maple Leafs scored the final two goals of the second period to send the game to the third period tied at 3. It stayed that way through the third. But when Washington's Lars Eller took a high-sticking penalty at 19:44, Toronto opened the overtime on the power play and took advantage.

Predators 3, Blackhawks 2 (OT)

Kevin Fiala slipped a backhander past Corey Crawford at 16:44 of overtime, and Nashville overcame a 2-0, third-period deficit to take a stunning 3-0 series lead in the teams' first-round Western Conference playoff series.

Fiala scored his second goal of the series off James Neal's slick backhand pass.

Crawford stopped 46 shots in the defeat, while Pekka Rinne made 34 saves for Nashville.

Filip Forsberg erased Chicago's two-goal third period lead by himself. First, he pounced on the rebound of Viktor Arvidsson's shot for his first goal of the series at 4:24. Forsberg then flicked home a wrister from the slot at 14:08, jumping on the carom of Ryan Ellis' point blast.

Senators 4, Bruins 3 (OT)

Bobby Ryan tipped home a pass from Kyle Turris for a power-play goal 5:43 into overtime, giving Ottawa a road win and a 2-1 lead in the first-round Eastern Conference playoff series.

Riley Nash was in the penalty box when Erik Karlsson hit a flying Turris with a pass into the zone that was close to being offside. Turris got the puck to Ryan, who tipped it past Tuukka Rask as Ottawa overcame blowing a 3-0 lead to reclaim home-ice advantage in the best-of-seven series.

Mike Hoffman scored twice and Derick Brassard had a goal for Ottawa. Noel Acciari, David Backes and David Pastrnak answered for the Bruins in their second straight three-goal second period.

Ducks 5, Flames 4 (OT)

Corey Perry scored at 1:30 of overtime as Anaheim overcame a 4-1 deficit to win the game and take a 3-0 lead in their Western Conference first-round playoff series.

Perry's shot from a bad angle hit Calgary goalie Brian Elliott and then deflected off defenseman Michael Stone's backside and in to lead the Ducks to a come-from-behind victory.

Shea Theodore scored his first two NHL playoff goals for the Ducks. In relief of Anaheim starting goalie John Gibson, Jonathan Bernier stopped all 16 shots he faced to pick up the win. Gibson gave up four goals on 16 shots before being relieved by Bernier at 8:33 of the second period.

Sean Monahan had a goal and an assist for the Flames.

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