UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- Nicklas Backstrom scored 11:09 into overtime to lift the Washington Capitals to a 2-1 victory on Tuesday night, and even their first-round playoff series against the New York Islanders.
Alex Ovechkin also scored and assisted on the decisive goal, which came off a faceoff to the right of the Islanders net. Backstrom dug the puck out in the right corner and worked his way up the boards.
He snapped a shot near the blue line that went through a crowd and sneaked inside the far post.
Casey Cizikas scored for the Islanders as the series shifts to Washington for Game 5 on Thursday.
It was the second consecutive game decided in overtime, after John Tavares needed 15 seconds to seal the Islanders' 2-1 win on Sunday (see full recap).
Mrazek, Red Wings blank Lightning
DETROIT -- Petr Mrazek made 22 saves for his first postseason shutout, and Pavel Datsyuk, Riley Sheahan and Luke Glendening scored for Detroit in a 3-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night that gave the Red Wings a 2-1 lead in their playoff series.
The 23-year-old Mrazek was coach Mike Babcock's choice to start in this series instead of Jimmy Howard, and the youngster has acquitted himself well in his postseason debut.
NHL
He made 44 saves in a 3-2 victory in the opener, and although he was pulled after two periods in a 5-1 loss the following game, Mrazek bounced back nicely at home.
After being outshot badly in the first two games at Tampa Bay, the Red Wings were able to contain the high-scoring Lightning on Tuesday in a tightly contested matchup (see full recap).