In Progress: Surprising Canadiens Hope To Put Capitals In 0-2 Hole

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Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Nicklas Backstrom set up the tying goal with 1:21 remaining in the third period and completed his hat trick with the game- winner 31 seconds into overtime, as the Washington Capitalsrallied from a three-goal deficit to beat Montreal, 6-5, and even their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series with the Canadiens.

After being held without a shot in Game 1, Alex Ovechkin registered a goal and three assists for the Presidents' Trophy-winning Capitals, who avoided being swept at home to begin the playoffs for the second straight year.

Last spring, Washington dropped the first two games in the opening series to the Rangers at Verizon Center, but ultimately prevailed in seven games.

Capitals starting goaltender Jose Theodore was pulled and replaced by Semyon Varlamov after allowing goals on the first two shots he faced. A visibly frustrated Theodore slammed his stick as he came off the ice.

Varlamov finished with 19 saves.

The switch in net brought back shades of last season when a wobbly Theodore started Game 1 against New York. Washington head coach Bruce Boudreau went with Varlamov for Game 2 and stuck with the untested rookie for the duration of the 2009 postseason.

Backstrom's heroics overshadowed Andrei Kostitsyn, who had a hat trick of his own for Montreal.

Michael Cammalleri collected three assists for the Canadiens, who had lost eight consecutive postseason games before Tomas Plekanec supplied the overtime winner on Thursday.

Jaroslav Halak made 31 saves on 37 shots in defeat.

This best-of-seven series shifts to Quebec for Games 3 and 4, with the third meeting set for Monday at Bell Centre.

Kostitsyn's third goal -- a power-play marker -- gave the visitors a 4-1 lead at 17:44 of the second period.Jaroslav Spacek unloaded a shot from the point that was tipped in front by Washington defenseman Jeff Schultz, pinballed off the thigh of Kostitsyn and sailed past Varlamov.

Backstrom ignited the comeback 39 seconds later, shooting through the screen provided by Mike Knuble.

Ovechkin crashed the crease and poked in a rebound of a John Carlson shot at 2:56 of the third period. Backstrom stood outside the blue paint and tapped in an Ovechkin feed to tie the game at 9:47.

Plekanec finished off a give-and-go with Cammalleri to put Montreal back in front, 5-4, with 5:06 to play.

Washington had a chance to tie the game when Benoit Pouliot tripped Carlson 23 seconds after Plekanec scored the go-ahead goal.

The Canadiens managed to thwart the power play, but a trailing Carlson took a drop pass from Backstrom and ripped a shot over the glove of Halak to force overtime.

It didn't take long for the deciding goal to materialize in overtime. Backstrom took a couple strides over the enemy blueline and snapped the puck through Roman Hamrlik's legs and over Halak.

Brian Gionta silenced the boisterous crowd one minute into the contest with a one-timer from the left point, a stoppable shot that Theodore whiffed on.

The woes continued for the former league MVP as he was beaten by Kostitsyn on a wrist shot from the high slot at 7:58 of the first period.

Eric Fehr's breakaway goal put Washington on the board at 10:21. Kostitsyn made it 3-1 at 11:06 of the second period.

Ovechkin and Backstrom each had six shots...Hamrlik had a game-high seven blocked shots...Montreal finished 1-for-3 on the power play, while the Capitals went 0-for-3.