WASHINGTON — Sidney Crosby scored two goals in 52 seconds, Nick Bonino got the winner in the third period and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Washington Capitals 3-2 in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series on Thursday night.

Crosby versus Alex Ovechkin got much of the buzz heading into the showdown of two of NHL’s best teams, and Ovechkin collected his fourth goal of the playoffs. Evgeny Kuznetsov tied it in the third, but Marc-Andre Fleury made 15 of his 32 saves in the final period to help the defending Stanley Cup champions to the victory.

Crosby was a threat to score just about every time he touched the puck. He beat Braden Holtby with his first two shots of the second period.

Holtby stopped 18 shots, but he allowed Bonino’s goal at 12:36 of the third.

The Capitals had waited since their Game 6 overtime loss to the Penguins a year ago for another shot at them, and Coach Barry Trotz was among many who said it felt right for these teams to meet again.

SENATORS 2, RANGERS 1: Erik Karlsson scored on a bad-angle shot with 4:11 left, sending host Ottawa to a victory over New York in the opener of their second-round series.

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The Senators captain beat fellow Swede Henrik Lundqvist from just above the goal line. The shot pinged off Rangers center Derek Stepan before going into the net.

It was Karlsson’s first goal and seventh point of the playoffs. The 26-year-old defenseman, who has been playing with a foot injury, also logged more than 28 minutes in the win.

Ryan McDonagh scored for New York, and Lundqvist finished with 41 saves.

Craig Anderson stopped 33 shots and Ryan Dzingel scored for Ottawa.

NOTES

PREDATORS: General Manager David Poile says forward Kevin Fiala broke his left leg during Game 1 against St. Louis and is recovering from surgery to repair his femur. Fiala went hard into the boards Wednesday after a hit from Robert Bortuzzo.

AWARDS: Columbus left wing Nick Foligno, Anaheim center Ryan Getzlaf and Calgary defenseman Mark Giordano are the finalists for the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award.


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