CANADIENS USE LATE HEROICS TO EVEN SERIES AGAINST RANGERS
Tomas Plekanec (1-1—2) tied the game with 17.3 seconds remaining in regulation and Alexander Radulov (1-2—3) scored at 18:34 of overtime as the Canadiens evened their series with the Rangers.

* Radulov registered his first career playoff overtime goal as well as his first three-point game in the postseason. He ranked second on the Canadiens with 18-36—54 this season, his first NHL campaign since 2011-12.

* Elias notes that Plekanec (59:42) scored the latest tying goal in Canadiens playoff history, eclipsing the mark set by Jacques Lemaire (59:36) in Game 1 of the 1975 Semifinals at BUF (6-5 OT L).

CROSBY POWERS PENGUINS TO 2-0 SERIES LEAD . . .
Sidney Crosby (1-2—3) collected a point on each of Pittsburgh’s first three goals to post his 11th career three-point playoff game and lead the Penguins to victory.

* Crosby, who tallied 44-45—89 in 2016-17 to lead the League in goals and share second in points, boosted his career playoff totals to 50-90—140 in 126 games. Elias notes that his average of 1.11 points per game is tied for 10th all-time in Stanley Cup Playoffs history (min. 50 GP); Wayne Gretzky tops the list at 1.84 points per game.

* Crosby ranks third among active players in career playoff points, behind Jaromir Jagr(78-123—201 in 208 GP) and Marian Hossa (52-97—149 in 202 GP). The only other active skater with at least 90 career assists is Joe Thornton (94).

* Additionally, Crosby became the 57th player in NHL history to score 50 career playoff goals (and third to do so with the Penguins). Only four active players have more: Jagr (78), Patrick Marleau (65), Henrik Zetterberg (57) and Hossa (52).

. . . BLUES LEAVE MINNESOTA WITH PAIR OF WINS
After notching the overtime winner in Game 1, defenseman Joel Edmundson opened the scoring on Friday before Jaden Schwartz tallied the go-ahead goal with 2:27 left in regulation to help the Blues leave Minnesota with a 2-0 series lead.

* Edmundson, who scored in consecutive games for the first time, notched his third career playoff goal (3-0—3 in 18 GP) to move within one of matching his total in 136 career regular-season games (4-20—24).

* Elias notes that St. Louis took a 2-0 lead on the road in a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Playoffs series for third time in franchise history – they won each of the other two instances in four games (1993 DSF at CHI and 2001 CSF at DAL).

DID YOU KNOW?
Courtesy of the Elias Sports Bureau:

* Teams that take a 2-0 lead in a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Playoffs series hold an all-time series record of 305-48 (86.4%).

* Teams that take a 2-0 lead on the road in a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Playoffs series hold an all-time series record of 71-18 (79.8%).

* When teams are tied 1-1 in a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Playoffs series, the winner of Game 3 holds an all-time series record of 202-97 (67.6%).

LOOSE PUCKS
Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (39 saves) recorded his 55th career playoff victory to surpass Terry Sawchuk for sole possession of 16th place on the NHL’s all-time list. Fleury (102 GP) also surpassed Tom Barrasso (101 GP) to become the all-time franchise playoff leader in games played by a goaltender . . . Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist made a career-high 54 saves (regular-season and playoffs) . . . The NHL announced start times for First Round games on Thursday, April 20 . . . ICYMI: The Penguins-Blue Jackets and Capitals-Maple Leafs were mic’d up for Game 1 of their respective series.

SNEAK PEEK AT SATURDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Boston @ Ottawa, BOS leads 1-0, 3 p.m., SN, TVAS, NBC
Toronto @ Washington, WSH leads 1-0, 7 p.m., CBC, TVAS, NBCSN, CSN-DC
Nashville @ Chicago, NSH leads 1-0, 8 p.m., SN, TVAS2, NBC
Calgary @ Anaheim, ANA leads 1-0, 10:30 p.m., CBC, TVAS, NBCSN, FS-W

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the information above.