NHL: Washington Capitals strike early, top Toronto Maple Leafs to tie series

Tom Wilson and T.J. Oshie each scored two goals as the Washington Capitals beat the Toronto Maple Leafs, 5-4, on Wednesday night to tie their first-round playoff series at two games apiece.

Alex Ovechkin added his third goal of the playoffs as the top-seeded Capitals regained momentum with the series shifting back to Washington for Game 5 on Friday night. Braden Holtby made 30 saves.

Zach Hyman, James van Riemsdyk, Auston Matthews and Tyler Bozak scored for Toronto, which was coming off a 4-3 overtime win on Monday night. Frederik Andersen stopped 22 shots.

The Maple Leafs rallied after the Capitals scored four times in the first for a 4-1 lead. Bozak, who had the winning goal in Game 3, got Toronto within one with 26 seconds left, but Washington held on from there.

The tight finish came after a dominant start for the Capitals. Oshie got Washington on the board when he capitalized on a Nate Schmidt point shot sent purposefully wide of the net. Ovechkin then was left wide open for a one-time drive on a power play, making it 2-0 at 4:34 of the first.

Ottawa 1, at Boston 0: Bobby Ryan scored early in the third period and Craig Anderson stopped 22 shots for his fourth career postseason shutout as the Senators beat the Bruins for a 3-1 lead in their first-round playoff series.

It was Ottawa’s fifth straight win in Boston dating to 2015 and seventh victory in eight tries — home or away — this season. Game 5 is Friday night in the Canadian capital.

Tuukka Rask made 26 saves for Boston, which had a goal disallowed in the second when Ottawa coach Guy Boucher challenged and the replay showed Noel Acciari was offsides.

Minnesota 2, at St. Louis 0: Devan Dubnyk made 28 saves, Charlie Coyle scored in the first period and the Wild avoided elimination in Game 4.

Dubnyk’s second playoff shutout came almost two years to the day of his first, also against the Blues on April 20, 2015. Martin Hanzal also scored for the Wild in the second.

The series shifts back to Minnesota on Saturday.