Timing Is Right for Capitals’ Krygier

Defenseman Todd Krygier, who scored only two goals all season and didn’t play in 37 games, skated onto the ice at the start of an overtime shift and found Andrei Nikolishin’s pass at his feet between the faceoff circles.

Krygier blasted a shot past Dominik Hasek’s glove side 3:01 into the overtime, giving the Washington Capitals a 3-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Monday night and tying the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals at one game apiece.

“I just came onto the ice,” Krygier said. “And I was in the right place at the right time. It’s definitely the biggest goal of my career. I wouldn’t say that I come into these games expecting to score.”

Krygier, who grew up playing street hockey in Buffalo, spent 10 games in the minors, sat out eight because of an injury and was scratched for 19 others this season. In addition, he got in Washington Coach Ron Wilson’s doghouse when both were in Anaheim four years ago, but he has finally made good.

“We sort of had a falling out at a game in Chicago,” Wilson said. “I said, ‘You’re off the hook for the Chicago incident.’ ”

The victory, which snapped Buffalo’s eight-game winning streak, was the first for the Capitals in a conference finals in franchise history. Washington was swept by Boston in its only previous appearance in 1990.

“You play stick hockey thinking you’re going to get an overtime goal in the NHL playoffs,” Krygier said. “It was a dream of mine.”

Games 3 and 4 will be in Buffalo on Thursday night and Saturday.

President Clinton was at the game, sitting with Vice President Al Gore in Capitals owner Abe Pollin’s box. Clinton was the first sitting president to attend an NHL game, but he left at the end of regulation and didn’t see the game-winning goal.

While Washington celebrated, Buffalo complained that two of Washington’s goals--including the game-winner--should not have counted. Replays showed Peter Bondra’s skate was in the crease when he deflected in a goal in the second period, and the Sabres contended that icing should have been called on Krygier’s goal.

“The first one, his skate was in the crease and the third one was icing,” Buffalo right wing Matthew Barnaby said.

Meanwhile, Buffalo needed a gift goal to get to overtime. The Capitals appeared to have the victory in hand until Esa Tikkanen deflected Barnaby’s slapshot between goaltender Olaf Kolzig’s legs and into the Capitals’ net with 56 seconds remaining in regulation.

But the ensuing celebration fired up the Capitals.

“Barnaby was taunting our bench after the goal,” Wilson said. “Our team was really upset. We went out there with the intention of burying them right away.”