Capitals push Bruins to brink of elimination

NHL: Troy Brouwer scored on a power play with 1:27 left, giving the visiting Washington Capitals a 4-3 victory Saturday and moving the defending champion Boston Bruins a loss away from elimination.

Brouwer gave the Capitals a 3-2 series lead with his second goal of the playoffs, beating goalie Tim Thomas over the glove with a wrist shot from the right circle. It came with 37 seconds left on a slashing penalty against Benoit Pouliot.

The Bruins, who trailed 2-0 and 3-2, tied it at 8:47 of the third period on Johnny Boychuk’s goal.

The Capitals can wrap up the best-of-7 series at home today.

• Panthers take lead over Devils: Kris Versteeg scored a goal and set up another, Jose Theodore made 30 saves for his second postseason shutout, and the Florida Panthers moved a win away from their first series win in 16 years with a 3-0 victory over the New Jersey Devils in Sunrise, Fla.

• Senators top Rangers, take series lead: Craig Anderson stopped 41 shots to make Jason Spezza’s first-period goal stand up, and the visiting Ottawa Senators pushed the top-seeded New York Rangers to the brink of elimination with a 2-0 victory.

• Blues beat Sharks: Jamie Langenbrunner and David Perron scored in a 45-second span in the third period, and St. Louis Blues woke up in time to put away the visiting San Jose Sharks 3-1 and wrap up the first-round series in five games.

• Chicago avoids elimination in OT: Jonathan Toews scored 2:44 into overtime and Chicago Blackhawks staved off elimination with a 2-1 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes in Glendale, Ariz.

Madrid shows Barcelona defeat

Soccer: Cristiano Ronaldo scored in the 73rd minute to send Barcelona to its first loss in 55 home games and put visiting Real Madrid on the cusp of breaking the three-year hold on the Spanish league crown with a 2-1 win.

Nuggets beat Suns; Nash makes history

NBA: Ty Lawson went 5 of 5 on 3-pointers and had 29 points and 10 assists to lead visiting Denver to a 118-107 victory over the Phoenix Suns that clinched a playoff berth for the Nuggets.

Steve Nash of the Suns had 13 assists, nine in the first quarter, and passed Oscar Robertson into fifth place on the NBA’s career list.

• Wade hurt as Heat lose to Wizards: LeBron James and Chris Bosh sat out the game, Dwyane Wade played and injured his finger, and the Miami Heat lost 86-84 to the visiting Washington Wizards.

Nadal, Djokovic in Monte Carlo final

Tennis: Rafael Nadal advanced to the Monte Carlo final without dropping a set in a 6-3, 6-4 win over Gilles Simon, while Novak Djokovic rallied from a set down to beat Tomas Berdych 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in Monaco. They meet today in the final.

• Williams gives U.S. lead against Ukraine: Serena Williams overpowered Ukrainian teenager Elina Svitolina 6-2, 6-1 to give the United States a 2-0 lead in the Fed Cup playoff series in Kharkiv, Ukraine.

In the opening match, American Christina McHale defeated Lesia Tsurenko 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 on clay at the Superior Golf and Spa Resort.

Curtis holds Texas Open’s top spot

Golf: Ben Curtis remained in position for his first PGA Tour victory since 2006 despite his first stumbles at the Texas Open, shooting a 1-over-par 73 to take a three-stroke lead into the final round in San Antonio.

• Two teams share lead: David Frost and Michael Allen birdied nine of the first 13 holes and combined for a 9-under 63 for a share of the second-round lead with Tom Purtzer and Brad Bryant in the Legends of Golf at Savannah, Ga.

• Miyazato wins eighth LPGA Tour event: Japan’s Ai Miyazato won the LPGA LOTTE Championship for her eighth career LPGA Tour title, birdieing three of the last six holes for a 2-under 70 and a four-stroke victory at Kapolei, Hawaii.

Alabama wins women’s gymnastics

Miscellany: Ashley Priess closed Alabama’s decisive balance beam rotation with a 9.950 and the Crimson Tide edged top seed Florida to win their second straight NCAA women’s gymnastics championship in Duluth, Ga.

• Burroughs, Varner earn Olympic wrestling bids: Reigning world champion Jordan Burroughs won the 74-kilogram freestyle spot at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Iowa City, Iowa.

World bronze medalist Jake Varner also earned a bid.

• All Squared Away wins Lexington Stakes at 70-1: The 70-1 long shot All Squared Away rallied to win the $200,000 Grade 3 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland, spoiling the Kentucky Derby chances of many in Lexington, Ky.

• The Lumber Guy wins: The Lumber Guy beat Brigand by 2 3/4 lengths in the $200,000 Jerome Stakes for 3-year-olds at Aqueduct in New York.

• Capital Plan wins Santa Barbara Handicap: Capital Plan beat Cambina by 1 1/2 lengths to earn victory in the $150,000 Santa Barbara Handicap for older fillies and mares at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.