Stanley Cup Notebook: Penguins, Senators & Blues Take Control

 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 post-season.

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.

Fluery and New York's Henrik Lundqvist each made 22 saves.

Pittsburgh is a loss away from elimination after dropping consecutive home playoff games to the NHL's best regular-season road team. The Rangers have won 12 of their last 13 on the road, allowing 15 goals.

SENATORS 1, CANADIENS 0

 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.

Only four teams have come back to win when trailing 0-3 in a series: Toronto in 1942, the New York Islanders in 1975, Philadelphia in 2010 and Los Angeles in 2014.

Game 5 is Friday night in Montreal.

BLUES 6, WILD 1

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 post-season road losing streak that lasted more than three years.

Patrik Berglund had a goal and an assist, and David Backes and Paul Stastny scored for the first time in the series. So did fourth-line right wing Ryan Reaves, whose one-timer from the point got past Dubnyk's glove to give the Blues the early lead.

Dubnyk gave up six goals on 17 shots and was pulled with 3:10 left in the second period.

Jared Spurgeon scored for Minnesota.

Game 5 is in St. Louis on Friday night.