Stanley Cup Playoffs: Ducks Complete Series Sweep Of Jets; Rangers Take 3-1 Series Lead; Senators Top Habs To Avoid Sweep; Blues Tame Wild To Level Series At 2-2

Four games were played on Wednesday as the Stanley Cup Playoffs continued.

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

At Pittsburgh:

Kevin Hayes scored the winning goal 3:14 into overtime as the New York Rangers knocked off the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1 on the road in game four of their conference quarterfinal series, which they now lead three games to one. Henrik Lundqvist stopped 22 of 23 shots for the victory.  The Rangers can wrap up the series with a game-five home win on Friday.

At Ottawa:

Mike Hoffman scored the only goal of the game in the third period while Craig Anderson stopped all 28 shots as the Ottawa Senators avoided elimination and defeated the visiting Montreal Canadiens 1-0 in game four of their opening-round series.  The Habs, who still lead the series three games to one, can still close out the Senators on home ice on Friday with a victory in game five.



WESTERN CONFERENCE:

At St. Paul, Minnesota:

Vladimir Tarasenko scored twice as the St. Louis Blues leveled their first-round series with the Minnesota Wild at two games apiece following their 6-1 game-four road demolition.

At Winnipeg, Manitoba:

Ryan Kesler scored twice in the third period as the Anaheim Ducks completed a four-game sweep of their conference quarterfinal series with the Winnipeg Jets with their 5-2 game-four road victory.  The Ducks become the first team to advance to the second round while the current Jets organization (the former Atlanta Thrashers; they moved to Winnipeg in 2011) is now 0-8 in playoff games.