NEW YORK — Joel Ward scored with 1.3 seconds left to give the Washington Capitals a 2-1 victory over the New York Rangers on Thursday night in Game 1 of their second-round Stanley Cup playoff series.
Ward drove to the net and tapped Alex Ovechkin’s feed past Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist. After the goal was confirmed by replay, Ovechkin kissed Ward on the cheek.
Following a mostly ceremonial faceoff, the teams skirmished at center ice at Madison Square Garden.
Ovechkin opened the scoring on a power play with 1:47 remaining in the first period. Jesper Fast tied it with 4:39 left in the third, tipping former Boston College star Kevin Hayes’ point shot past Capitals goalie Braden Holtby.
Holtby made 31 saves, and Lundqvist stopped 27 shots. Game 2 is scheduled for Saturday at Madison Square Garden.
Thumbnail photo via Adam Hunger/USA TODAY Sports Images
