This Time, Capitals Play Comeback Role

Todd Krygier scored twice during an improbable rally and the Washington Capitals overcame a three-goal deficit and two Petr Nedved goals in 11 seconds to beat the Penguins, 6-4, Wednesday night at Pittsburgh to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Despite playing with several defensemen sidelined with injuries, the second-lowest scoring team to make the NHL playoffs scored the final five goals after Pittsburgh opened a 4-1 lead.

“We’re like Greg Norman--it seems we can’t play with a lead, but we battle back and make a great charge,” said goaltender Olaf Kolzig, who shut out Pittsburgh over the final 28:51 after Jim Carey was pulled. “The guys more or less rallied around me.”

The Capitals beat the Penguins in Game 1 of a playoff series for the fifth consecutive time since 1991. Pittsburgh rallied from the first-game losses to win three of those four series, twice rebounding from 3-1 deficits.

On Wednesday, it was Washington’s turn to come back.

“We were ahead, 4-1, and we stopped playing,” said the Penguins’ Tomas Sandstrom, who scored in only his second game since late January. “We stopped working and thought everything would take care of itself. We left [goaltender] Tom [Barrasso] out there hanging by himself.”

Detroit 4, Winnipeg 1--The Red Wings, seeking their first Stanley Cup since 1955, scored three goals in a 2:21 span of the third period and beat the Jets at Detroit.

Alexei Zhamnov scored on the Jets’ first shot, halfway through the first period. It was 1-0 after two periods, marking the first time since Feb. 24 against Tampa Bay that the Red Wings went two periods without scoring.

But that changed quickly in the third. Kris Draper scored at the 2:27 mark, followed by goals by Viacheslav Fetisov, Greg Johnson and Paul Coffey.

Florida 6, Boston 3--The Panthers may be in their first playoff series, but Ray Sheppard is no stranger to the postseason as he had two goals and an assist in their win over the Bruins at Miami.

“Any time you can get one up in the playoffs you count yourself lucky and you try to take advantage,” said Sheppard, a veteran of 49 playoff games. “We were surprised with what we did against [Bruins goalie] Billy Ranford.”

Goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck had a season-high 42 saves while Stu Barnes and Robert Svehla each had two assists for Florida.

Chicago 4, Calgary 1--Joe Murphy, coming off a disappointing regular season, opened the playoffs with two goals and an assist as the Blackhawks defeated the Flames at Chicago.

Sheldon Kennedy scored 3:23 into the game, but that was it for the Flames, who haven’t won a playoff series since 1989.