NHL

Capitals beat Maple Leafs 5-4, tie series at 2 games apiece

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Washington Capitals centre Lars Eller (20) celebrates his goal with teammates Tom Wilson (43) and Andre Burakovsky (65) during first period NHL hockey round one playoff action against the Toronto Maple Leafs, in Toronto on Wednesday, April 19, 2017. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP) (The Associated Press)

CORRECTS CREDIT TO GOAL SCORED TO TOM WILSON NOT LARS ELLER Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) celebrates his goal during first period NHL hockey round one playoff action in Toronto on Wednesday, April 19, 2017. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) (The Associated Press)

Toronto Maple Leafs centre Nazem Kadri (43) celebrates a goal by teammate James van Riemsdyk, not shown, as Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby (70) looks on during second period NHL hockey round one playoff action in Toronto on Wednesday, April 19, 2017. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP) (The Associated Press)

Tom Wilson and T.J. Oshie each scored two goals, and the Washington Capitals beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-4 on Wednesday night to tie their first-round playoff series at two games apiece.

Alex Ovechkin added his third goal of the playoffs as the top-seeded Capitals regained momentum with the series shifting back to Washington for Game 5 on Friday night. Braden Holtby made 30 saves.

Zach Hyman, James van Riemsdyk, Auston Matthews and Tyler Bozak scored for Toronto, which was coming off a 4-3 overtime win on Monday night. Frederik Andersen stopped 22 shots.

The Maple Leafs rallied after the Capitals scored four times in the first for a 4-1 lead. Bozak, who had the winning goal in Game 3, got Toronto within one with 26 seconds left, but Washington held on from there.

The tight finish came after a dominant start for the Capitals.

Oshie got Washington on the board when he capitalized on a Nate Schmidt point shot sent purposefully wide of the net. Ovechkin then was left wide open for a one-time drive on a power play, making it 2-0 at 4:34 of the first.