The visiting Montreal Canadiens have scored a 6-5 double-overtime win over the host-Carolina Hurricanes in the opening round of the National Hockey League playoffs.
Michael Ryder scored a goal two minutes and 32 seconds into the second overtime period Monday night to give the Canadiens a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven game Eastern Conference series. Game three is Wednesday night in Montreal.
In another overtime game, Joe Sakic scored his NHL playoff-record seventh overtime goal, to beat the host Dallas Stars 5-4. He tipped in a shot at 4:36 of the extra period to give Colorado a 2-0 series lead in the only Western Conference matchup Monday night.
Back in the Eastern Conference, J.P. Dumont and Jason Pominville each scored hat-tricks to lead the Buffalo Sabres to an 8-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. The Sabres lead the series 2-0.
In New Jersey, John Madden tied an NHL playoff record with two short-handed goals and ended up with a hat-trick to lead the Devils to a 4-1 win over the New York Rangers. New Jersey has a 2-0 lead in the series, with game three set for Wednesday night.
