Rookie Evgeny Kuznetsov scored twice Thursday night as the host Washington Capitals beat the New York Islanders, 5-1, to take a three-games-to-two lead in their first-round playoff series.
Karl Alzner added a goal and an assist for the Capitals, who dominated despite zero points from stars Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom.
Game 6 is Saturday in Uniondale, N.Y.
Predators 5, Blackhawks 2 - Filip Forsberg scored a hat trick as host Nashville stayed alive. The Blackhawks lead the series, three games to two, with Game 6 scheduled for Saturday in Chicago.
Lightning 3, Red Wings 2 - Tyler Johnson scored 2 minutes, 25 seconds into overtime as visiting Tampa Bay rallied to tie the series with Detroit at two games apiece.