STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

Mrazek's 22 saves help Wings rout Lightning

RED WINGS 3, LIGHTNING 0

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 playoff glance

All times Central

MONDAY’S GAMES

NY Rangers 2, Pittsburgh 1, Minnesota 3, St. Louis 0, Anaheim 5, Winnipeg 4, OT,

TUESDAY’S GAMES

Detroit 3, Tampa Bay 0,

Detroit leads series 2-1

Washington 2, NY Islanders 1 OT,

Series tied 2-2

Nashville at Chicago, (n),

Chicago leads series 2-1

Calgary 3, Vancouver 1,

Calgary leads series 3-1

TODAY’S GAMES

Montreal at Ottawa, 6 p.m.,

Montreal leads series 3-0

NY Rangers at Pittsburgh, 6 p.m.,

NY Rangers lead series 2-1

St. Louis at Minnesota, 8:30 p.m.,

Minneosta leads series 2-1

Anaheim at Winnipeg, 8:30 p.m.,

Anaheim leads series 3-0

THURSDAY’S GAMES

Tampa Bay at Detroit, 6 p.m. NY Islanders at Washington, 6 p.m. Chicago at Nashville, 8:30 p.m. Calgary at Vancouver, 9 p.m.

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.

Detroit forward Justin Abdelkader returned from a hand injury and played for the first time since April 4. He assisted on Sheahan's power-play goal in the third period.

The Red Wings opened the scoring with 11:14 left in the first when Tomas Tatar's shot from the point appeared to deflect off Datsyuk's right leg and past goalie Ben Bishop for the 36-year-old center's 41st career playoff goal.

Tampa Bay's power play had a great chance to tie it in the second when Glendening and Danny DeKeyser took penalties 64 seconds apart for Detroit, but Tyler Johnson -- who scored twice in Game 2 -- hit the crossbar during the 5-on-3 and a turnover by Steven Stamkos gave Drew Miller an easy clear during that extended penalty-killing situation.

The Red Wings didn't allow many chances from in close, and Mrazek did a nice job controlling rebounds for the most part. There was an anxious moment for Detroit later in the second when Niklas Kronwall was called for hooking on a short-handed effort by Tampa Bay's Alex Killorn.

Mrazek stopped Killorn during the delayed penalty, and although the rebound eventually ended up in the net, the Red Wings had already touched the puck to stop play.

Sheahan's first career playoff goal gave Detroit some insurance with 13:18 left in the third. After a quiet start to the power play, Abdelkader slid a nice pass to Sheahan, who was alone in front and stickhandled around Bishop.

The Lightning had one more good chance to start a rally when Brian Boyle skated in on a short-handed breakaway, but Mrazek stopped that. Cedric Paquette then tripped Mrazek to pick up a goaltender interference penalty -- although Abdelkader came over to stand up for his goalie and was also called for a penalty during the ensuing hostilities near the boards.

Glendening scored into an empty net in the final minute for his second goal of the series.

CAPITALS 2,

ISLANDERS 1, OT

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — Nicklas Backstrom scored 11:09 into overtime to lift the Washington Capitals to a victory 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 victory on Sunday.

The Capitals had two of the best scoring chances to open overtime, and both set up by Marcus Johansson.

Five minutes in, he circled the Islanders net and sent a pass through the middle to Evgeny Kuznetsov, who was stopped by Jaroslav Halak.

Three minutes later, with the Isles caught on a line change, Johansson got the puck at the New York blue line and passed to Jason Chimera breaking in alone. Halak kicked out his right pad to make the save. Halak finished with 28 saves.

Ovechkin opened the scoring at 13:06 of the first off a faceoff to the left of the Islanders net. Backstrom won the draw and got the puck back to John Carlson at the right point. Carlson blasted a shot which Ovechkin deflected in while cutting across the middle.

It was Ovechkin’s second goal of the series and only second in 13 road playoff games dating to Game 2 of Washington’s second-round series against the New York Rangers on April 30, 2012. Cizikas tied it with 13 seconds left in the opening period.

FLAMES 3, CANUCKS 1

CALGARY, Alberta — Jiri Hudler had a goal and an assist and the Calgary Flames earned a victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday.

Calgary’s Johnny Gaudreau scored his first playoff goal and 18-year-old rookie Sam Bennett had his second in as many games.

Dennis Wideman had a pair of assists for the Flames, who split the first two games of the series in Vancouver before back-to-back wins at home.

Goaltender Jonas Hiller made 28 saves for the victory.

Captain Henrik Sedin scored for the Canucks. Starter Eddie Lack was pulled after giving up three goals on seven shots in the first period. Ryan Miller turned away the 15 he faced in relief. Calgary leads the Western Conference series 3-1.

Sports on 04/22/2015

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