Capitals go 2-0 up over Flyers, Rangers tie up Penguins series

The Washington Capitals have overcome a physical Philadelphia Flyers 4-1 to take a 2-0 lead in their NHL Stanley Cup play-offs series.

The Presidents' Trophy winners were too quick and too sharp for the Flyers who did their best to disrupt the slick Capitals.

John Carlson scored his second goal of the series to open the scoring after 14 minutes in the first period and while the Flyers did well to contain the Capitals, they handed their opponents an absolute gift two minutes into the second.

Jason Chimera tipped-in from 101 feet when he flicked the puck towards goal from inside his own half.

The puck moved through the ice towards goaltender Steve Mason and slipped through his legs.

Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom scored the other goals for the Capitals with Jakub Voracek scoring the only one for the Flyers, who would have scored more if not for the 41-save heroics of Braden Holtby in the Capitals goal.

The New York Rangers blitzed the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second period to set up a 4-2 win to tie the series 1-1.

Keith Yandle, Derick Brassard and Mats Zuccarello scored in the second period for the Rangers after Phil Kessel put the Penguins 1-0 up.

Kessel doubled his tally in the third period, but not before Chris Kreider made sure of the win for the Rangers.

The Dallas Stars took a 2-0 lead in their series against the Minnesota Wild, with Jamie Benn getting on the end of a Cody Eakin assist to score the winner in a 2-1 triumph.

Elsewhere, the San Jose Sharks defeated the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 to take a 2-0 lead in the series.