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Backstrom seals Capitals’ 2-1 overtime win over Isles

Washington Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik (44) celebrates with Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom (19) of Sweden as New York Islanders center John Tavares (91) leaves the ice with his head down after Backstrom scored in overtime of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup hockey playoff series at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y., Tuesday, April 21, 2015. The Capitals defeated the Islanders 2-1 to even the series at 2-2. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) Washington Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik (44) celebrates with Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom (19) of Sweden as New York Islanders center John Tavares (91) leaves the ice with his head down after Backstrom scored in overtime of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup hockey playoff series at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y., Tuesday, April 21, 2015. The Capitals defeated the Islanders 2-1 to even the series at 2-2. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

By Associated Press April 21, 2015 1 min read

UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) – Nicklas Backstrom scored 11:09 into overtime to lift the Washington Capitals to a 2-1 victory on Tuesday night, and even their first-round playoff series against the New York Islanders.

Alex Ovechkin also scored and assisted on the decisive goal, which came off a faceoff to the right of the Islanders net. Backstrom dug the puck out in the right corner and worked his way up the boards.

He snapped a shot near the blue line that went through a crowd and sneaked inside the far post.

Casey Cizikas scored for the Islanders as the series shifts to Washington for Game 5 on Thursday.

It was the second consecutive game decided in overtime, after John Tavares needed 15 seconds to seal the Islanders’ 2-1 win on Sunday.