NHL Playoffs: Flyers fend off Capitals, 2-0, to stay alive

Michal Neuvirth made a playoff career-high 44 saves and the visiting Philadelphia Flyers defeated the Washington Capitals 2-0 in Game 5 on Friday night to stay alive in their first-round series.

Neuvirth carried the team and blunted Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals’ every charge to cut the series deficit to 3-2 and send it back to Philadelphia for Game 6 on Sunday.

It didn’t matter that Washington outshot Philadelphia, 44-11, including 35-6 at five-on-five. It’s the first time a team won a Stanley Cup playoff game with 11 shots since the Capitals beat the Ottawa Senators in 1998, and that total is the fewest shots in Flyers history, counting the regular season and playoffs.

“I like to face a lot of shots. It keeps me in the game,” Neuvirth said. “I enjoy it. Guys did a really good job in front of me.”

Ryan White scored the lone goal for the Flyers against Braden Holtby, with the puck deflecting in off Washington defenseman Taylor Chorney and past the goalie. Chris VandeVelde added an empty-netter in the final minute.

Holtby was barely tested in making 10 saves.

The pressure is now on the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Capitals, who led the series 3-0 before Neuvirth replaced Steve Mason in goal for Philadelphia. Washington lost back-to-back games in regulation for the first time all season.

N.Y. Islanders 2, at Florida 1 (2 OT): Alan Quine’s power-play goal at exactly 16 minutes of the second overtime gave the Islanders the victory and a 3-2 series lead.

Thomas Greiss stopped 47 shots for the Islanders. Roberto Luongo made 40 saves for the Panthers, who missed a penalty shot in the first overtime and were whistled for two penalties in the second overtime. The game ended at 12:16 a.m. local time.

Frans Nielsen scored in the first period for the Islanders, and Aleksander Barkov tied it early in the third for the Panthers.

It was the seventh consecutive playoff overtime loss for Florida, a streak beginning with the final game of the 1996 Stanley Cup Final against Colorado.

Minnesota 5, at Dallas 4 (OT): Mikko Koivu redirected Ryan Suter’s shot from the left point 4:55 into overtime and the Wild stayed alive in their first-round series. Koivu scored the last two goals for the Wild, who go home still down 3-2 in the best-of-seven series.

Jason Spezza and Alex Goligoski scored goals 28 apart almost midway through the third period, giving the Stars their first lead of the game. But the Wild forced overtime when Koivu went top shelf for the tying goal with 3:09 left in regulation.