Stanley Cup Playoffs notebook: Thursday, April 30

THURSDAY'S RESULTS

Home Team in Caps

Washington 2, NY RANGERS 1 – WSH leads 1-0

ANAHEIM 6, Calgary 1 – ANA leads 1-0

WARD NETS BUZZER BEATER AS CAPITALS STUN RANGERS IN GAME 1

The New York Rangers tied the game with 4:39 left in the third period, but Joel Ward scored the game-winning goal with 1.3 seconds remaining in regulation to help the Washington Capitals take a 1-0 lead in their second-round series.

* Elias says only two other game-winning goals have been scored in the final two seconds of regulation in a playoff game, by Jussi Jokinen of the Carolina Hurricanes on April 21, 2009 vs. the New Jersey Devils (19:59 of third period) and Bob Pulford of the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 11, 1964 vs. the Detroit Red Wings (19:58 of third period).

* Ward, an undrafted free agent who signed with the Minnesota Wild in 2006 and played three seasons with the Nashville Predators from 2008-11 before joining the Capitals, scored his third career playoff game-winning goal. The others came in Game 5 of the 2011 WSF at the Vancouver Canucks while with Nashville, and in overtime of Game 7 in the 2012 EQF at the Boston Bruins, moving Washington into the conference semifinals.

* Ward tied for second on the Capitals with four game-winning goals during the 2014-15 regular season, matching his career-high set in 2010-11 and equaled in 2013-14. Overall, he has 13-18—31 in 47 career playoff games (.660 points per game) and 97-123—220 in 517 regular-season games (.426 points per game).

* Alex Ovechkin (1-1—2) recorded his 18th career multiple-point playoff game. He scored his 10th career power-play goal in the postseason, half of which have come against the Rangers. He led the NHL and set a career high/franchise record with 25 power-play goals during the regular season.

* Braden Holtby made 31 saves to improve to 4-3 with a 1.54 goals-against average and .947 save percentage in the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs (7 GP).

* Game 1 marked the 20th playoff game between these clubs since the 2010-11 season, tied for the most during that span with the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks. Washington is 26-23 in 49 all-time playoff games between the clubs.

* The Capitals won Game 1 against the Rangers for the third time in nine meetings. They also jumped to a 1-0 series lead in the 2011 EQF (won series 4-1) and 2013 WQF (lost series 4-3).

DOWN TO THE WIRE

Capitals forward Joel Ward scored the third game-winning goal in the final minute of regulation thus far in the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs (49 GP). The others were scored in the First Round by Flames defenseman Kris Russell (29.6 seconds remaining in Game 1 at the Vancouver Canucks) and Anaheim Ducks forward Jakob Silfverberg (21 seconds remaining in Game 2 vs. the Winnipeg Jets).

* Elias says that matches the total number of games decided by a winning goal in the final minute of regulation during the last two playoff years. During the 2014 playoffs (93 GP), Montreal Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty tallied the series-clinching goal with 42.6 seconds remaining in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference First Round vs. the Tampa Bay Lightning (on April 22, 2014). In 2013, St. Louis Blues defenseman Barret Jackman scored the decisive goal with 50.4 seconds remaining in Game 2 of the WQF vs. Los Angeles (on May 2, 2013) and Dave Bolland of the Chicago Blackhawks scored the Stanley Cup-clinching goal with 58.3 seconds remaining in Game 6 of the Final at Boston (on June 24, 2013).

PERRY, GETZLAF DOUSE FLAMES, POWER DUCKS TO 1-0 SERIES LEAD

Corey Perry (2-2—4) and Ryan Getzlaf (1-3—4) each had four points to power the Ducks to their fifth straight victory in the postseason and a 1-0 lead in their second-round series against the Calgary Flames.

* Perry and Getzlaf each matched a franchise record for points in a playoff game. Perry achieved the feat for the second time this postseason (also Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round vs. Winnipeg: 2-2—4). Each was one point shy of equaling his career high in one game (regular season and playoffs).

* The only other players to have at least four points in one playoff game for the Ducks are Joffrey Lupul (May 9, 2006 at the Colorado Avalanche: 4-0—4) and Andy McDonald (April 25, 2007 vs. Vancouver: 3-1—4).

* According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Perry is the first player to record at least four points in multiple games in one playoff year since Keith Primeau in 2004 with the Philadelphia Flyers (Game 5 of ESF vs. Toronto: 3-1—4; Game 6 of EF vs. Tampa Bay: 2-2—4).

* Elias also notes the Ducks had more than one player finish with at least four points in the same game (regular season and playoffs) for the first time since Nov. 8, 2013 vs. the Buffalo Sabres when Getzlaf (3-1—4) and Dustin Penner (1-3—4) each had four points.

* The Ducks improved to 15-4-2 in their last 21 meetings with the Flames dating to Dec. 10, 2010. (CGY: 6-11-4), including a 4-1-1 mark this season (Calgary: 2-4-0). Anaheim also won its 20th straight home game against Calgary dating to April 27, 2006 (regular season and playoffs).

* Overall, the Ducks have won six consecutive games dating to April 11 (regular season and playoffs), one game shy of their longest winning streak in 2014-15 (7-0-0 from Oct. 11-24 and Dec. 1-13).

* The Ducks led for 49:43 in Game 1, following Matt Beleskey's opening goal at 10:17 of the first period. The Ducks led for only 38:26 in their first-round series vs. Winnipeg, the least amount of time any team has ever led during a four-game sweep in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

* Patrick Maroon and Emerson Etem also scored for the Ducks, who equaled a franchise record for goals in one playoff game. They last scored six goals in one postseason game on April 26, 2014 in Game 5 of the Western Conference First Round vs. the Dallas Stars (6-2 W).

* Hampus Lindholm (0-2—2) picked up his first career multipoint playoff game, and Frederik Andersen stopped 23 shots to improve to 5-0 with a 1.97 goals-against average and .930 save percentage this postseason (5 GP).

NHL ANNOUNCES MASTERTON FINALISTS

Goaltenders Devan Dubnyk of the Wild and Andrew Hammond of the Ottawa Senators and defenseman Kris Letang of the Pittsburgh Penguins are the three finalists for the 2014-15 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, which is awarded “to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey,” the National Hockey League announced today.

The local chapters of the Professional Hockey Writers Association (PHWA) submitted nominations for the Masterton Trophy at the conclusion of the regular season and the top three vote-getters were designated as finalists. The winner will be announced Wednesday, June 24, during the 2015 NHL Awards from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Click here for more information on each finalist.

* ICYMI: The NHL will reveal the three finalists for the NHL Foundation Player Award prior to Friday’s games.

LOOSE PUCKS

Rangers forward Jesper Fast scored his first career playoff goal (9 GP). Carl Hagelin had an assist on the play to stretch his point streak to four games (2-2—4). . . . Five of the Rangers' six games this postseason have resulted in 2-1 scores. They are 4-1 in those games. . . . Henrik Lundqvist lost for the first time in a Game 1 at Madison Square Garden (5-1). . . . Flames rookie Sam Bennett scored the club's lone goal. He has 3-2—5 in eight career NHL games (regular season and playoffs). . . . Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik logged one shot, four hits, four blocked shots and 22:54 TOI while playing in his 100th career playoff game. . . . ICYMI: Click here to listen to the best sounds from the First Round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs. . . . The Stanley Cup made a guest appearance on Thursday’s episode of Elementary. . . . ICYMI: Seventeen fans are tied for first atop the overall leaderboard in the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs Bracket Challenge powered by Samsung.