MONTREAL — Alex Galchenyuk scored on a spin-around shot 3:40 into overtime, leading Montreal to a 3-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Friday night that gave the Canadiens a 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series.
Max Pacioretty, back from a concussion, and P.K. Subban scored in regulation for the Canadiens, while David Desharnais picked up an assist on each.
Clarke MacArthur and Patrick Wiercioch scored for the Senators, and Mark Stone added two assists despite limited mobility in his right wrist from a slash by Subban in the series opener Wednesday night.
Pacioretty returned to the lineup for the Canadians after sitting out Game 1 with the head injury he suffered near the end of the regular season.
Carey Price stopped 29 shots for Montreal, while Ottawa’s Andrew Hammond made 37 saves.
Game 3 is Sunday in Ottawa.
The Senators came out hitting, throwing 21 checks in the first period alone, and got the lead. Stone was in on the opening goal with a pass on a rush during which MacArthur beat Price with a dipping shot from the slot at 18:42.
The Canadiens adjusted to the Senators’ forechecking and turned the tables in the second, outshooting Ottawa 14-3 and taking the lead.
Pacioretty was parked in front to take a pass from David Desharnais and beat Hammond with low shot between the pads on a power play at 7:18.
Subban, who wasn’t suspended by the NHL for his slash on Stone, took a pass from Devante Smith-Pelly and blasted a shot past Hammond at 16:30.
Stone made the pass again as Wiercioch went to the net and got a shot between Price’s pads on a power play at 13:25 of the third.
CAPITALS 4, ISLANDERS 3: Nicklas Backstrom had a goal and two assists and Alex Ovechkin scored once, leading host Washington and fill-in goalie Philipp Grubauer past the New York Islanders to even their first-round playoff series at a game apiece.
After Washington’s two stars – Ovechkin led the NHL in goals, Backstrom was No. 1 in assists – were reunited on the top line, both scored to erase a 3-1 deficit. Jason Chimera netted the go-ahead goal with 121/2 minutes left.
Grubauer was called up from the minors Friday to replace starting goalie Braden Holtby, who was ill. Grubauer faced just 21 shots.
NOTES
FLYERS: Coach Craig Berube was fired following a season in which Philadelphia missed the playoffs.
The Flyers went 42-27-10 under Berube last season and lost a seven-game playoff series to the New York Rangers. This season the Flyers were 33-31-18.
RANGERS: Defenseman Dan Girardi practiced and is expected to play in Game 2 with Pittsburgh on Saturday night.
Girardi took a puck in the face in the third period of New York’s 2-1 win in Game 1 on Thursday night. He didn’t return and needed dental work.
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