TORONTO — William Nylander recalls being a kid, hanging around his father Michael’s NHL team, the Washington Capitals.

There were the times Nicklas Backstrom came by for dinner. And there was the shot that has helped Alex Ovechkin score 176 more regular-season goals than anyone since his entrance into the NHL in 2005.

“His shot is amazing,” says Nylander, the Maple Leafs’ rookie winger who will face his father’s old team in a first-round playoff series, with Game 1 slated for tonight in Washington.

Washington had a pair of 30-goal-scorers in Ovechkin and T.J. Oshie, but also nine other players who managed at least 12. There is also a well-rounded blue line corps that includes Kevin Shattenkirk, the trade deadline acquisition who finished fourth among all NHL defensemen with 56 points.

Backstrom, an ace at finding “little spaces” to thread passes, according to Nylander, finished second to Connor McDavid with 63 assists and fourth overall with 86 points. Braden Holtby, meanwhile, compiled another year of Vezina Trophy consideration.

Toronto’s primary defensive tandem for handling Ovechkin and the Caps’ top line, which also includes Backstrom and Oshie, is in real question with Nikita Zaitsev ruled out for Game 1 with an upper body injury. Coach Mike Babcock connected Jake Gardiner with Roman Polak at practice Wednesday and Morgan Rielly with veteran Matt Hunwick, but wasn’t sure if he’d keep the pairings intact.

Frederik Andersen, who probably has to outplay Holtby for the Leafs to win the series, said it wasn’t necessarily about being extra alert when Ovechkin hovered in wait, but understanding his tendencies and being prepared for them.

“He’s a good player, you just need to stay above him and try to stay close to him,” said Finnish winger Leo Komarov. “But he’s obviously going to get his chances and you just need to (keep) the puck away from him.”

In NHL playoff action last night:

Blues 2, Wild 1

Joel Edmundson scored for St. Louis at 17:48 of overtime, Jake Allen made a career-high 51 saves and the Blues sneaked into Minnesota to steal Game 1 of their first-round series from the Wild with a 2-1 victory.

Sharks 3, Oilers 2, OT

Melker Karlsson scored at 3:22 of overtime and San Jose came back to beat Edmonton in Game 1 of their Western Conference series.

The Oilers jumped out to a 2-0 first-period lead only for the veteran Sharks to come back and tie the game with just over 15 minutes to play.

Rangers 2, Canadiens 0

Tanner Glass scored in the first period and Henrik Lundqvist made 31 saves to help New York beat Montreal in Game 1 of their first-round series.

Michael Grabner added an empty-net goal with 1:10 left.

Fired up by 1960s pop star Ginette Reno’s national anthem, the Canadiens were all over New York in the opening period, but the Rangers struck first at 9:50. Montreal’s Tomas Plekanec won a draw in his own zone, but fourth-line winger Glass pounced on it and lifted a backhander over Carey Price’s shoulder.

Bruins 2, Senators 1

Brad Marchand broke a tie with 2:33 left and Boston held on to beat Ottawa in Game 1 of their first-round series.

Marchand scored off the rebound of Patrice Bergeron’s shot.

Frank Vatrano added a goal for Boston in his first NHL playoff game, and Tuukka Rask made 26 saves. Bobby Ryan scored for Ottawa, and Craig Anderson stopped 23 shots.