Capitals 3, Rangers 1: Marcus Johansson and Jason Chimera scored 46 seconds apart in the second period and Braden Holtby turned aside 35 shots as third-seeded Washington skated to victory in Game 1 of its Eastern Conference first-round series with visiting New York.

Three-time Maurice Richard Trophy winner Alex Ovechkin netted his 31st career playoff goal for the Southeast Division champion Capitals, who host the sixth-seeded Rangers in Game 2 on Saturday afternoon.

With the game tied at 1-1, defenseman Steve Oleksy's stretch pass sailed between New York defensemen Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi to allow Johansson to skate in and fire a wrist shot under the left arm of Henrik Lundqvist (27 saves).

Chimera, who was celebrating his 34th birthday, kept the Verizon Center rocking as he wired a shot from the left-wing boards that beat Lundqvist between his pads. It was Chimera's eighth career postseason goal - and sixth versus New York.

Carl Hagelin opened the scoring with 3:16 remaining in the first period as his wraparound attempt caromed off the left skate of Capitals defenseman John Erskine and past Holtby. Washington answered 6:59 into the second, when Ovechkin buried the puck after blue-liner Mike Green's shot caromed off the end boards.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Hagelin had a chance to give New York a 2-0 lead early in the second period, but Holtby denied him with his blocker on a breakaway. Hagelin also hit the crossbar midway into the third. ... Washington RW Joel Ward returned to the lineup following a nine-game absence with a knee injury. ... The Capitals, who finished the season with the league's best power play, went 1-for-5 with the man advantage.