Kolzig, Capitals KO Senators, 3-0

With an impenetrable goaltender and a stifling defense, the Washington Capitals defeated the Ottawa Senators, 3-0, Friday night to win their best-of-seven NHL playoff series in five games.

Olaf Kolzig made 29 saves for his second consecutive shutout and extended his scoreless run to 149:06 as the Capitals advanced to the Eastern Conference finals.

“It’s been a while for this team,” defenseman Brendan Witt said. “We still have a long road ahead of us. If we didn’t have a hot goaltender, we’d be golfing right now.”

The victory sets up an intriguing matchup against the Buffalo Sabres and their super goalie and Olympic gold medalist, Dominik Hasek.

In addition to Kolzig vs. Hasek, Washington and U.S. Olympic Coach Ron Wilson gets another chance against the Czech goaltender that eliminated the Americans in February.

“Hasek’s the best goaltender in the NHL,” Wilson said. “I think our goalie is playing just as good.

“I’m just glad it’s not a one-game elimination here, like it was in Nagano. I get to at least face him four times. Maybe if we beat him once, I’d be vindicated.”

Joe Juneau’s second-period goal was all the scoring the Capitals needed as they advanced to their first conference final since 1990, when they were swept by the Boston Bruins.

Juneau successfully converted a rebound three seconds after a power play expired. Phil Housley, a healthy scratch for the three previous games, set up the goal with a slap shot from the blue line, and Brian Bellows also got an assist for keeping the puck alive by banking it twice off goaltender Damian Rhodes.

The second goal didn’t come until 1:26 remained in the game, when defenseman Sergei Gonchar--who scored only five goals in the regular season--got his seventh of the playoffs on a power play. Calle Johansson added an empty-netter with 17 seconds to play.

In Game 4, Kolzig had also been outstanding as the Capitals were outshot, 36-11, but won, 2-0. The second goal was an empty-netter.

The loss ended the most successful playoff run for the Senators since their franchise was resurrected in 1992.

“We out-chanced them but we just didn’t capitalize,” Ottawa Coach Jacques Martin said. “It’s probably a reflection of our season. We are a young team going in the right direction.”

Juneau’s goal came at 2:30 of the second on the Capitals’ 12th shot. Then the team went silent for a long stretch.

Ottawa bombarded Kolzig with the next 15 shots.

Wilson, the Mighty Ducks’ former coach, said: “When you’ve got a 1-0 lead and they don’t score, you win. We’re defending, we’re chipping things to the outside. Olie had to make three or four big saves. It looked scary at times, but I don’t care. Once you get that lead, you’re just sitting back waiting for the other team to make a mistake.”

NHL Notes

Mario Lemieux has sued Pittsburgh Penguins co-owner Roger Marino, claiming the team has not paid him some of the deferred money required as part of his contract. Lemieux’s agent, Tom Reich, said his client was owed more than $1 million. “There’s nothing dramatic about it,” Reich said. “He wants to be paid when his money is due.”