Updated on
Summary Capitals down Bruins 2-1 to even their series while Coyotes take 3-1 series lead over Blackhawks.
The Washington Capitals overcame the absence of Nicklas Backstrom to defeat the Boston Bruins 2-1 while the Phoenix Coyotes pushed the Chicago Blackhawks to the brink of elimination with a 3-2 overtime win Thursday night.Braden Holtby, Washingtons 22-year-old rookie netminder, was again brilliant in goal, stopping 44 of the 45 Bruins shots to help Washington even their best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarter-final at two games apiece.The series, with each game having been decided by just one goal, heads back to Boston for game five on Saturday.Washington scored the game-winner with just 1:17 left in the second period when Alexander Semin blasted a shot from the left wing circle past Bostons veteran netminder Tim Thomas.Semins goal gave Washington a 2-1 lead and Holtby thereafter enabled the Capitals to preserve the lead.Game four the Western Conference quarter-final between the Coyotes and host Blackhawks remained scoreless until the third period when the teams combined for four goals over the final 13 minutes.Phoenix went up 2-0 on goals from Shane Doan and Taylor Pyatt before Chicago responded with tallies from Brendan Morrison and then Michael Frolik with just 1:26 remaining in regulation to send it to overtime.Mikkel Boedker then played hero for the second straight game, scoring another sudden death game winning goal to stun the Blackhawks and give the Coyotes a 3-1 series advantage with game five scheduled for Saturday night in Phoenix.
