Caps & Canucks go up 2-0; Bolts & Ducks even series

The Rangers controlled the flow of play for two of three periods against the Capitals on Friday night, but couldn’t penetrate a group that has truly learned how to play defensive hockey. New York managed only 22 shots on Capitals goalie Michal Neuvirth and the rookie stopped every single one of them, getting his first playoff shutout in a 2-0 victory that gave Washington a 2-0 lead in the first-round Eastern Conference series.




Tampa Bay's Martin St. Louis put some bite back in a Lightning offense by scoring a goal and adding an assist in a 5-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins to even the first round best-of-seven series at one.




Vancouver's Daniel Sedin scored his second goal midway through the third period as the Canucks survived three near comebacks and a frantic final few minutes to beat the Chicago Blackhawks, 4-3 and take a 2-0 lead in the first-round playoff series.




Anaheim's Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry each had a goal and two assists while Ray Emery made 31 saves in his first playoff start in nearly four years as the Ducks’ offensive stars led them to a 5-3 victory over the Nashville Predators. The series is now tied at one and Games 3 & 4 will be in Nashville, starting this Sunday.