BOSTON - Marcus Johansson and Alexander Semin scored and Braden Holtby stopped 44 shots as host Washington evened its Eastern Conference quarterfinal with Boston at two games apiece with a 2-1 win Wednesday.

The 22-year-old Holtby held off a potent Bruins attack to pick up his second career playoff victory. The Bruins outshot the Capitals by a 45-21 margin.

Washington found enough offense to even the series without center Nicklas Backstrom, who was serving a one-game suspension for his cross-check on Bruins forward Rich Peverley in Game 3.

Semin scored the game-winner on the power play with 1:17 left in the second period. Semin circled out to the left face-off circle and fired a wrist shot over the left shoulder of Tim Thomas for his second marker of the series.

The Capitals jumped out to an early lead when Johansson capitalized on the team's first shot of the game to make it 1-0.

Peverley's wrister on a two-on-one equalized for Boston later in the first period to tie the game at 1-1.

The Bruins went 0-for-1 on the power play and have yet to score with the man advantage in the series.

The series shifts back to Boston for Game 5 on Saturday.

- - - - - - - - -

GAME NOTEBOOK: Capitals goaltender Tomas Vokoun was on the ice taking shots at practice Wednesday. It was the first time he's worked out since aggravating a groin injury on Mar. 29. .... 39-year-old Mike Knuble skated in place of Backstrom.