PITTSBURGH (AP) — Kevin Hayes scored at 3:14 of overtime to give the New York Rangers a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday night in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first-round series.

The Rangers lead the series 3-1 heading back to New York for Game 5 on Friday night.

In overtime, Martin St. Louis started a goalmouth scramble when he threw the puck in front on a wraparound attempt. The puck pinballed to Carl Hagelin and went across the crease for Hayes to flip it past fallen goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. The point was Hayes’ first in the postseason.

New York’s Derick Brassard tied it at 1 with 2:45 left in the second period with his third goal of the series. Patric Hornqvist opened the scoring at 2:22 of the first period.



Senators 1, Canadiens 0

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Mike Hoffman scored midway through the third period and Ottawa beat Montreal to avoid elimination.

Craig Anderson made 28 saves to help the Senators’ cut Montreal’s lead to 3-1 in the Eastern Conference first-round series. Carey Price stopped 31 shots for the Canadiens.

Senators coach Dave Cameron moved Hoffman from the fourth line to the second unit with Mika Zibanejad and Bobby Ryan during the first period. It paid off in the third when Cody Ceci kept Tom Gilbert’s clearing attempt in at the point and fed Hoffman in the left circle for quick shot that beat Price.



Blues 6, Wild 1

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Vladimir Tarasenko scored twice and the revived St. Louis Blues sent Minnesota goalie Devan Dubnyk to an early exit and thoroughly dominated the Wild to even the Western Conference quarterfinal series 2-2.

Kevin Shattenkirk had three assists and Jake Allen made 17 saves to help the Blues end a nine-game postseason road losing streak that lasted more than three years.



Ducks 5, Jets 2

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Ryan Kesler scored twice in the third period and the Anaheim Ducks beat the Winnipeg 5-2 on Thursday night to sweep the Western Conference first-round series.

Andrew Cogliano, Emerson Etem and Sam Vatanen — into an empty net — also scored, and Frederik Andersen made 25 saves. The Ducks are the first team to advance to the second round.