* Flames defenseman Kris Russell, who has five game-winning goals in 511 career regular-season appearances, scored the tiebreaking goal with 29.6 seconds remaining in regulation. He had never scored a game-winning goal in the playoffs (14 GP); his last such tally in the regular season was on Nov. 3, 2013 at CHI – a span of 133 games.

* Canadiens forward Brian Flynn, who was acquired from the Sabres at the 2015 Trade Deadline, recorded 1-2—3, including the game-winning goal with 2:43 remaining in the second period. Flynn, who had zero points in nine games with the Canadiens during the regular season, had never registered three points in his NHL career prior toWednesday (168 GP) and had only one career multi-point performance, on Dec. 23 at DET (0-2—2 w/ BUF).

* Islanders forward Ryan Strome, who scored 17 goals during the regular season, posted the tiebreaking goal early in the second period. Per Elias, he became the second player in Islanders history to record a game-winning goal in his playoff debut. The other:Clark Gillies, who notched the decisive goal in the team’s first postseason game, on April 8, 1975 at NYR.

DARLING, KEITH LIFT BLACKHAWKS IN DOUBLE-OVERTIME COMEBACK
Down 3-0 after the first period, the Blackhawks scored four unanswered goals – including the winning tally by Duncan Keith at 7:49 of double-overtime – to take a 1-0 lead in their series against the Predators.

* Elias says the Blackhawks overcame a three-goal deficit to win in the playoffs for the first time since April 8, 1991, in Game 3 of the Norris Division Semifinals at MIN. In that game, Chris Chelios posted 1-3—4 to help the Blackhawks rally from a 5-2 deficit for an eventual 6-5 victory.

* Scott Darling, who entered the game at the start of the second period, stopped all 42 shots he faced in relief of Corey Crawford. In total, he played 67:44 – per Elias, that is a Stanley Cup Playoffs record for the most time without allowing a goal in a relief appearance. The previous such mark of 56:00 was set by Curtis Joseph, who stopped all 22 shots he faced for the Flames (in relief of Miikka Kiprusoff) in a 4-3 comeback win on April 13, 2008 vs. SJS.

* Keith (1-1—2) registered his first career playoff overtime goal (94 GP). He has one such goal in 766 career regular-season appearances – on Dec. 19, 2008 at CGY.

* Keith also scored his third career game-winning goal in the postseason (others April 19, 2011 vs. VAN and May 18, 2014 vs. LAK). He ranks fourth among active defenseman with 13-43—56 in his playoff career (94 GP).

* Jonathan Toews posted 1-2—3, including the tying goal late in the second period. It marked his 22nd career multi-point playoff performance and fifth with at least three points. His last such game: May 7, 2010, when he set career highs with 3-2—5 at VAN.

* Niklas Hjalmarsson and Patrick Sharp also scored in the second period. Hjalmarsson notched his second career playoff goal and first since April 24, 2010, also vs. NSH.

* Making his return to the lineup following a 21-game absence, Patrick Kane picked up a pair of primary assists – on Sharp’s and Toews’ goals. He has 37-56—93 in 94 career playoff outings, including 26 multi-point performances.

* Marian Hossa also collected a pair of helpers. He ranks second among active players with 84 assists and 129 points in the playoffs (172 GP).

* The Blackhawks improved to 51-41-2 in 94 all-time playoff overtime games. That includes a 10-8 mark in double-overtime.

* The Blackhawks also opened the postseason with an overtime game for the fourth consecutive year (OT L in 2012 at PHX, OT W in 2013 vs. MIN and OT L in 2014 at STL). They have played at least one overtime game in 12 consecutive series dating to the 2010 Western Conference Final vs. SJS – that is tied for the longest active streak in the NHL (w/ SJS).

MORE ABOUT DARLING
Blackhawks goaltender Scott Darling turned in a record-setting performance in his playoff debut. Some facts:

* Via Elias, Darling became the second goaltender in NHL history to earn a win in his playoff debut while allowing no goals and playing more than 60 minutes. The only other goaltender to do that: Normie Smith, whose first postseason appearance was in the longest game in Stanley Cup Playoffs history – a 1-0 six-overtime win by the Red Wings at Mtl. M.

* Darling became the first Blackhawks rookie goaltender to win his playoff debut since April 6, 1990 (Ed Belfour vs. MIN). He also became the first Blackhawks goaltender to make his NHL debut (in the regular season) and win a playoff game in the same season since 1940-41 (Sam LoPresti).

* Darling became the first goaltender from any NHL team to win while making his playoff debut in relief since April 21, 1997 (Steve Shields: 11 SV w/ BUF in 3-2 W at OTT). His 42 saves were a career high and the most by a rookie goaltender in his first postseason appearance since April 24, 1997 (Jose Theodore: 56 SV w/ MTL in 4-3 3OT W vs. NJD).

* The 26-year-old Darling, who made his NHL debut on Oct. 26 (32 SV in 2-1 W vs. OTT), has split the past four seasons in the SPHL, ECHL and AHL. A native of Lemont, Ill., he became the first local product to appear in a game with the Blackhawks since 2007-08 (Danny Richmond: Chicago, Ill.).

* ICYMI: Captain Jonathan Toewspresented Darling with the team’s championship beltfollowing the win.

RUSSELL, FLAMES STUN CANUCKS WITH LAST-MINUTE GOAL
Behind 1-0 after 40 minutes, the Flames scored twice in the third period – including the tiebreaking goal by Kris Russell with 29.6 seconds remaining in regulation – to grab a 1-0 lead in their series with the Canucks.

* Elias says Russell’s tally marked the latest go-ahead goal in regulation in Flames playoff history. It also was the latest tiebreaking goal in the third period of a playoff game by any team since June 1, 2011, when Raffi Torres scored at 19:41 of the final frame to lift the Canucks to a 1-0 victory in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final vs. BOS.

* The Flames set a franchise record during the regular season with 10 wins when trailing after two periods (10-20-4). Overall, they posted 24 comeback victories and scored 99 third-period goals, tied for first in the NHL (w/ TBL).

* Russell notched his second career postseason goal and first since April 23, 2009 vs. DET (w/ CBJ). He recorded career highs in assists (30) and points (34) during the regular season while pacing the NHL with 283 blocked shots, 74 more than the next-closest player (Roman Josi).

* David Jones registered the tying goal early in the third period, his first tally in 11 career playoff games. ICYMI: The team rewarded Jones with its firefighter’s helmet.

* Jonas Hiller stopped 29 shots, including all 13 he faced in the third period, to earn his 13th career postseason victory (27 GP).

* Sam Bennett and Michael Ferland each collected one assist while making their playoff debuts. The 18-year-old Bennett, the fourth overall selection in the 2014 NHL Draft, also recorded one assist in his League debut on Saturday at PHI.

FLYNN, CANADIENS EDGE SENATORS IN SEESAW AFFAIR
Montreal and Ottawa combined for six goals in the second period (MTL: 4, OTT: 2), butBrian Flynn scored the tiebreaking marker with 2:43 left in the frame to power the Canadiens to a 1-0 series lead.

* Five of the six second-period goals were scored during a 4:43 span, including tying and go-ahead markers 15 seconds apart by Torrey Mitchell and Tomas Plekanec. Elias says those were the fastest two goals in a playoff game by the Canadiens since May 8, 1998, when Turner Stevenson and Vincent Damphousse scored 10 seconds apart at BUF.

* Per Elias, Flynn (1-2—3) became the first Canadiens player to register at least three points in his postseason debut since April 7, 1988, when Gilles Thibaudeau compiled 2-1—3 vs. HFD.

* Flynn has scored one other game-winning goal in his entire career (168 GP) – on April 5, 2013, also vs. OTT (during his rookie season w/ BUF).

* Both Flynn and Mitchell joined the Canadiens at the 2015 Trade Deadline and did not score with the team prior to Wednesday. The last Canadiens player to record his first goal with the team in the playoffs was Brent Sopel on April 21, 2011 vs. BOS.

* Carey Price made 30 saves to earn his 18th career postseason victory, surpassingGerry McNeil for sole possession of sixth place in franchise history. He also improved to 7-3 in his last 10 playoff games at Bell Centre (4-9 prior to that run).

* Lars Eller added his second career shorthanded goal in the postseason. He also scored the team’s last such goal, on May 17, 2014 vs. NYR.

* The Canadiens improved to 73-44 all-time in Game 1 of best-of-seven series. They have won 61 of the previous 72 series when taking a 1-0 lead.

ISLANDERS SCORE THREE UNANSWERED GOALS TO TAKE EARLY LEAD
Even at 1-1 after 20 minutes, the Islanders scored three unanswered goals – including the tiebreaker by Ryan Strome at 3:50 of the second period – to take the early edge in their series with the Capitals.

* Strome, the fifth overall selection by the Islanders in the 2011 NHL Draft, totaled 17-33—50 during the regular season (81 GP) to improve on his totals from his rookie campaign in 2013-14 (7-11—18 in 37 GP). He also registered a pair of game-winning goals during the regular season – on Nov. 18 vs. TBL and March 21 at NJD.

* Playing in his second postseason game, Brock Nelson scored a pair of goals. He became the first Islanders player to record multiple goals in a playoff game since May 7, 2013 vs. PIT (Mark Streit) and the first to do so on the road since April 10, 2004 at TBL (Jason Blake).

* ICYMI: New in-post cameras captured Nelson’s opening goal at 6:06 of the first period – the first of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs – from a never-before-seen perspective.

* Josh Bailey added 1-1—2, including his first career playoff goal (7 GP), while John Tavares earned the primary assist on Strome’s winner.

* Jaroslav Halak made 24 saves to improve to 11-11 in 24 career postseason appearances (2.35 GAA, .925 SV%).

* The Islanders won Game 1 of a series on the road for the first time since April 9, 2003, a 3-0 victory at OTT. They also reversed the regular-season trend between these teams in which the home club won all four contests.

GAME 1 TREND
Via Elias, teams that win Game 1 in a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Playoffs series hold an all-time series record of 427-195 (68.6%).

DID YOU KNOW?
Road clubs won three of the four games contested on Wednesday.

* Per Elias, road teams that win Game 1 in a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Playoffs series hold an all-time series record of 123-96 (56.2%).

* In the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs, road clubs set an NHL record with 47 wins in 86 total games (.547). That included a 30-18 clip (.625) in the opening round, the highest winning percentage since the NHL switched to the 16-team playoff format in 1979-80.

NHL ANNOUNCES #MYPLAYOFFSMOMENT CAMPAIGN
The NHL announced the details of #MyPlayoffsMoment presented by GoPro, a campaign that encourages fans worldwide to share their fandom and how they are experiencing each game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Fans are encouraged to capture every moment using video captured with their GoPro, mobile or tablet devices and to submit that content through social media using the official hashtag #MyPlayoffsMoment. Fans then will have the chance to watch their favorite moments included in compilation videos posted on the League’s social media platforms or in matchup preview videos broadcast nationally.

Click here for more information.

LOOSE PUCKS
The Senators suffered their first road regulation loss since Feb. 3 at NJD. They finished the regular season on a franchise-record, 14-game road point streak (11-0-3) . . . Senators goaltender Andrew Hammond (35 SV) also suffered his first career road regulation loss. He went 10-0-2 as a visitor during the regular season (1.06 GAA, .966 SV%, 3 SO), becoming the first goaltender in the NHL’s modern era to earn at least one point in each of his first 12 road starts . . . Predators forward Colin Wilson (2-0—2) registered his first career multi-goal playoff game (14 GP). He also matched a career high for goals in one game, achieved eight times during the regular season (368 GP) . . . Canucks forward Bo Horvat scored the team’s lone goal while making his playoff debut. During the regular season, Horvat (at 19 years, 200 days on Nov. 20 vs. ANA) became the first teenager to record a goal for the Canucks since Nov. 29, 2003 (Ryan Kesler) . . . Rookie forwards Anders Lee (NYI) and Teuvo Teravainen (CHI) both picked up assists while making their playoff debuts . . . Playing in his first game since March 21, Senators forward Milan Michalek notched his 15th career playoff goal (58 GP) . . . Predators forward Viktor Stalberg, who spent three seasons with the Blackhawks (2010-13) and helped the team capture the Stanley Cup in 2013, scored in his first playoff game against his former club . . . Senators defensemen Erik Karlssonand Patrick Wiercioch each collected two assists . . . The Predators set a franchise playoff record with 54 shots on goal . . . ICYMI: Country music star Carrie Underwood showed her support for husband Mike Fisher and the Predators.

SNEAK PEEK AT THURSDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Pittsburgh @ NY Rangers, Game 1, 7:00 p.m., NBCSN, CBC, TVA, ROOT, MSG
Detroit @ Tampa Bay, Game 1, 7:30 p.m., CNBC, SN, TVA2, FS-D, FS-F
Minnesota @ St. Louis, Game 1, 9:30 p.m., NBCSN, SN360, TVA3, FS-N, FS-WI, FS-MW
Winnipeg @ Anaheim, Game 1, 10:30 p.m., CNBC, SN, TVA, PRIME
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RANGERS, PENGUINS MEET FOR SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR
The Presidents’ Trophy-winning Rangers (53-22-7, 113 points) face the Penguins (43-27-12, 98 points) in the postseason for the second straight year when the teams begin their First Round series at Madison Square Garden. In 2014, New York overcame a 3-1 series deficit for the first time in franchise history to eliminate Pittsburgh in the Second Round (en route to a trip to the Stanley Cup Final). Prior to last year, the Penguins had never lost to the Rangers in the playoffs, winning all four of their series and 16 of the 20 games played. Overall, New York won six of its final seven games during the regular season to complete its best campaign in franchise history. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, snapped a five-game skid (0-4-1) with a 2-0 victory on the final day of the season to clinch its ninth consecutive postseason trip. The Rangers went 3-0-1 in the four games between these clubs during the regular season (PIT: 1-2-1), outscoring the Penguins 16-8. Rick Nash led the way with 4-3—7 (4 GP) after recording one assist in their seven-game playoff series in 2014.

LIGHTNING, RED WINGS FACE OFF IN FIRST POSTSEASON SERIES
Atlantic Division rivals meet in the playoffs for the first time when the Lightning (50-24-8, 108 points) play host to the Red Wings (43-25-14, 100 points) at Amalie Arena in Game 1 of their First Round series. Tampa Bay is 7-2-0 in its last nine meetings with Detroit dating to the start of 2013-14 (DET: 2-4-3); that includes a 3-0-1 mark this season (DET: 1-2-1). Overall, the Lightning set franchise records with 50 wins and 108 points during the regular season, eclipsing the previous marks of 46 and 102, respectively, established when they captured the Stanley Cup in 2003-04. They also paced the NHL and set club records with 32 home wins and 65 home points. The Red Wings, meanwhile, are making their 24th consecutive appearance in the postseason – the longest active streak in North American professional sports and tied for the fourth-longest such run in NHL history. Detroit has not missed the playoffs since Tampa Bay joined the League in 1992-93.

BLUES ALSO FACE FIRST-TIME OPPONENT IN SURGING WILD
Another first-time series begins when the Central Division champion Blues (51-24-7, 109 points) take on the Wild (46-28-8, 100 points) at Scottrade Center in Game 1 of the opening round. Nine points out of first place as late as Feb. 25, St. Louis fashioned a late-season surge to capture its ninth division title in franchise history. Reversing a trend from last season, when the Blues ended the year on a six-game losing streak, the club won five of its final six games down the stretch. Eight points outside of a playoff spot when he made his team debut on Jan. 15, goaltender Devan Dubnyk backstopped the Wild to a 28-9-3 record (59 points) in their final 40 games to lead the team to its second 100-point season in franchise history. That included a 12-game road winning streak at the end of the campaign, tied for the longest such run in NHL history (w/ 2005-06 DET). These clubs split their four regular-season meetings (MIN: 2-1-1, STL: 2-2-0), with the Blues winning 4-2 on the final day of the campaign.

JETS MAKE POSTSEASON RETURN AGAINST DUCKS
The Jets (43-26-13, 99 points) return to the playoffs for the first time since 2007 when they visit the Western Conference champion Ducks (51-24-7, 109 points) at Honda Center. Winnipeg set several notable franchise records in 2014-15: its 99 points surpassed the previous high of 97 set in 2006-07 (when the team was based in Atlanta) and its 43 wins matched the record total from that season. The Jets also allowed 210 goals, shattering the previous best of 237 goals-against from last season. Anaheim, meanwhile, posted its second-best record in franchise history, trailing only last season’s squad (53-20-8, 114 points). That included a 25-12-4 (54 points) on the road, equaling club marks for road wins and points in one season established in 2013-14. The Ducks swept the three-game season series between these clubs (WPG: 0-1-2). They have won five of the last six meetings dating to Oct. 6, 2013.

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the information above.