THURSDAY AROUND THE NHL | Playoff recaps

Captitals 3, Maple Leafs 2 (OT)

WASHINGTON

Toronto native Tom Wilson scored his first NHL playoff goal 5:15 into overtime and the Washington Capitals won Game 1 of their first-round series. The Capitals came back from a two-goal deficit. Justin Williams scored twice in regulation. Braden Holtby stopped 35 of 37 shots. Toronto counterpart Frederik Andersen had 41 saves before being beaten by Wilson with an absurd shot on the winner. Mitch Marner and Jake Gardiner scored in the first period for Toronto, back in the playoffs for the first time since 2013. Game 2 is Saturday night in Washington.

Predators 1, Blackhawks 0

CHICAGO

Pekka Rinne made 29 saves, Viktor Arvidsson scored in the first period and Nashville beat Chicago in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series. Rinne’s second career postseason shutout sent Nashville to just its second playoff win in Chicago in seven tries. Game 2 is Saturday night at the United Center. The Blackhawks, who won the Central Division this year with the most points in the Western Conference, are going for their fourth Stanley Cup championship in the last eight seasons. They eliminated Nashville during two of those title-winning runs, including in 2015 when the Predators blew leads of 3-0 in Game 1 and 3-1 in Game 6 of their first-round series.

Associated Press