Rangers Can’t Solve Capitals in Game 1 of Series

Alex Ovechkin's franchise-record 31st career playoff goal got the Capitals started before less-heralded teammates Marcus Johansson and Jason Chimera scored 46 seconds apart, and Washington beat the New York Rangers 3-1 Thursday night in Game 1 of their first-round series.

Ovechkin, a two-time MVP who led the NHL with 32 goals this season, crashed the net to score on a power play about seven minutes into the second period to tie the game for the Capitals, the third-seeded team in the Eastern Conference.

Carl Hagelin had put sixth-seeded New York ahead 1-0 in the first period -- the only puck that made it past Braden Holtby, who finished with 35 saves.

Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is Saturday in Washington.

(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)