NHL roundup: Expansion Knights complete sweep

[April 18, 2018]  Marc-Andre Fleury had 31 saves for his 12th career playoff shutout as the Vegas Golden Knights became the first expansion team in the 100-year history of the National Hockey League to sweep a playoff series in its first season with a 1-0 victory over the host Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday.

Ex-King Brayden McNabb scored the lone goal for Pacific Division winner Vegas, which won the best-of-seven series 4-0. The Golden Knights will play the winner of the San Jose Sharks-Anaheim Ducks series in the Western Conference semifinals.

It was the 66th career playoff victory for Fleury, which moved him past Dominik Hasek into 11th place on the NHL's all-time list for playoff wins for a goaltender. Jonathan Quick stopped 20 shots for Los Angeles.

McNabb netted the first playoff goal of his career at the 4:04 mark of the second period. The score came after Fleury made a big save on Dustin Brown. Vegas then broke out on a three-on-two rush ending with Reilly Smith sending a crossing pass to McNabb, who fired a one-timer from the dot in the right circle into the upper right corner of the net.

Capitals 3, Blue Jackets 2 (2OT)

Lars Eller scored 8:59 into the second overtime, giving visiting Washington the win against Columbus in Game 3 of an Eastern Conference first-round playoff series, though the Blue Jackets still have a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

The decisive goal came on a wacky play where the puck appeared to hit off of Columbus defenseman Zach Werenski at the crease, then bang off the foot of Eller near the right post and then past goalie Sergei Bobrovsky.

Braden Holtby got his first start of the series in goal for the Capitals after Philipp Grubauer's strong late-season play earned him the start for Games 1 and 2. Holtby came on in the third period of Game 2 and played well, then turned in a strong performance in Game 3, making 33 saves. Game 4 will be on Thursday night in Columbus.

Jets 2, Wild 0

Connor Hellebuyck recovered from a shaky performance to notch 30 saves, and visiting Winnipeg beat Minnesota to pull within one game of advancing to the Western Conference semifinals.

Mark Scheifele scored both of Winnipeg's goals, including an empty-net tally with 11 seconds to play as the Jets built a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Scheifele's first goal came with 28 seconds left in the first period after the Jets killed off the first Minnesota power play of the game.

Minnesota goalie Devan Dubnyk made 26 saves. Game 5 is Friday night in Winnipeg, where the Jets dominated at times in the first two games.

--Field Level Media

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