Kolzig, Capitals in Command

A short-handed goal is all the Washington Capitals needed to put the Ottawa Senators on the brink of elimination in the Stanley Cup playoffs. That, and the big pads and lightning-quick glove of goaltender Olaf Kolzig.

Sergei Gonchar got the goal late in the first period and Kolzig did the rest, stopping 36 shots Wednesday night and leading the Capitals to a 2-0 victory in Kanata, Canada.

Mark Tinordi scored into an empty net with five seconds left for Washington, which holds a 3-1 series edge.

“For me it’s the same thing night in and night out, stop the puck and give the guys a chance to win,” said Kolzig, who gave up four goals in Monday’s 4-3 loss. “That’s the way it’s been the whole playoffs. The guys realize the more shots I get, the better I play.”

It was Kolzig’s second shutout of the playoffs and Ottawa’s first home loss after four victories. It also put the Senators in dire straits. With a victory in Game 5 on Friday night at home, the Capitals can advance to the Eastern Conference finals for only the second time in the team’s 24-year history.

Dallas 3, Edmonton 1--Benoit Hogue scored twice, including his second consecutive winning goal, to power the Stars to victory at Edmonton and a commanding 3-1 lead over the Oilers in their Western Conference semifinal series.

Game 5 is Saturday at Dallas.

Hogue, who has four playoff goals, sealed the victory at 11:45 of the third period when he beat Edmonton goaltender Curtis Joseph high on the stick side with a wicked drive from the top of the faceoff circle.

“I just teed it up,” said Hogue, who scored the winner in overtime in Game 3.

Dallas veteran Guy Carbonneau scored his first goal of the playoffs at 8:46 of the opening period, but Edmonton’s Scott Fraser struck back 97 seconds later when his quick shot from high in the slot handcuffed Dallas goalie Ed Belfour. It was Fraser’s first goal of the postseason.