TORONTO — Montreal took a commanding 3-0 series lead over the Ottawa Senators when winger Dale Weise scored his second goal of the game at 8:47 of overtime to give the Canadiens a narrow 2-1 victory Sunday. Weise's snap-shot from the left-wing circle went behind Senators goalie Craig Anderson on the short side, the only blemish in an otherwise exceptional 47-save effort.
The Canadiens outshot the Senators 9-7 in overtime and 49-34 overall, responding well to tie the game late in the third period after Clarke MacArthur had scored for the Senators in the first. Game Four of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference first round series is in Ottawa Wednesday.
Flames 4, Canucks 2: Rookie center Sam Bennett scored his first NHL goal and goalie Jonas Hiller made 23 saves as the Calgary Flames beat the Vancouver Canucks to take a 2-1 lead in their Western Conference first round series.
The Flames can take a stranglehold on the best-of-seven set with a win in Game Four at the Scotiabank Saddledome Tuesday.
Brandon Bollig, defenseman T.J. Brodie and center Sean Monahan also scored for the Flames, while the Canucks got their goals from center Shawn Matthias and right winger Jannik Hansen in what has been a bitter series between Canadian rivals.
Blackhawks 4, Predators 2: Left-winger Brandon Saad scored the tiebreaking goal to lift Chicago to victory over visiting Nashville.
Center Jonathan Toews added a goal and an assist for Chicago, who seized a 2-1 Western Conference first round series lead. Blackhawks center Andrew Desjardins and defenseman Brent Seabrook also scored.
Center Mike Ribeiro and defenseman Mattias Ekholm scored for Nashville. Chicago rookie goaltender Scott Darling made 35 saves to win his first career playoff start. Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne turned aside 26 shots in the loss.
Islanders 2, Capitals 1 (OT): Center John Tavares scored 15 seconds into overtime as New York edged Washington in Game Three of their Eastern Conference first round series.
The victory gave the Islanders a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Tavares reacted quickest to pounce on left-winger Nikolay Kulemin's blocked shot with the puck trickling past Capitals goalie Braden Holtby and over the red line as the sellout crowd roared their approval.
Game Four is scheduled for Tuesday in Uniondale, New York. — Reuters
