Blues, Penguins open NHL play-offs with wins

Omnisports 04:46 - 14 April 2016

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The St Louis Blues edged to victory in the NHL play-offs as the home teams enjoyed winning starts.

The St Louis Blues edged the Chicago Blackhawks 1-0 after overtime to open their NHL play-off series with a win.

David Backes scored the only goal of the game as the Blues fought their way to a win in the Western Conference first round.

Blues goaltender Brian Elliott also produced heroics as his 35-save shutout helped his side to their victory.

Patric Hornqvist netted a hat-trick in the Pittsburgh Penguins' 5-2 win over the New York Rangers at Consol Energy Center.

Goaltender Jeff Zatkoff stopped 35 shots for the Penguins as they took a 1-0 lead in the Eastern Conference first-round play-off.

Derek Stepan scored both goals for the Rangers, who lost goalie Henrik Lundqvist to an eye injury in the first period.

A third-period goal from Alex Killorn saw the Tampa Bay Lightning edge the Detroit Red Wings 3-2.

Nikita Kucherov had earlier scored either side of goals from Mike Green and Justin Abdelkader, before Killorn struck eight minutes, 52 seconds into the third period.