National Hockey

BOSTON — Frederik Andersen finished off an energy drink as he prepared to speak with reporters. Then he paused to take a sip of water in the middle of his first answer. The exhausted Toronto goalie had earned every drop.

WASHINGTON — Nicklas Backstrom scored his second goal of the game 11:53 into overtime to give the Washington Capitals a 4-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday and a 3-2 lead in the first-round playoff series.

TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Lightning understand what it takes to be successful in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

WASHINGTON — Overtime came at the perfect time for the Washington Capitals.

Boston centre Patrice Bergeron returned to the Bruins' lineup for Game 5 of their first-round playoff series with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night.

ST. PAUL, Minn. — No team in the ultra-competitive Western Conference has made the playoffs more times in a row than the Minnesota Wild, with six straight appearances to share the current streak lead with the Anaheim Ducks.

DENVER — The third-string goalie nicknamed "Hamburglar" stole a game for Colorado in Nashville. No time for Andrew Hammond to revel in his thievery, though. Game 6 awaits Sunday at the Pepsi Center.

TAMPA, Fla. — Nikita Kucherov and the Tampa Bay Lightning are moving on in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

WASHINGTON — Alexander Wennberg will return to the Columbus Blue Jackets' lineup for Game 5 at the Washington Capitals. Coach John Tortorella confirmed his return about an hour before puck drop on Saturday.

NEW YORK — Forward Brian Boyle of the New Jersey Devils, goaltender Roberto Luongo of the Florida Panthers and forward Jordan Staal of the Carolina Hurricanes were named the finalists for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy on Saturday.