The Canadiens are down a game and a key player early in their playoff series with the Senators.
Center Lars Eller suffered a concussion and facial fractures after taking a big hit from Ottawa defenseman Eric Gryba in the second period of the Senators’ 4-2 victory in Game 1 last night in Montreal.
Eller, who was taken off on a stretcher with a pool of blood on the ice, was spending the night in a hospital, the team said. The hit came as Eller took a pass up the middle from Montreal defenseman Raphael Diaz.
“It’s tough seeing a guy laying in a heap with blood coming out,” said Canadiens center Ryan White. “You never want to see that.”
Gryba was given an interference major and a game misconduct and could face further discipline from the NHL.
Jakob Silfverberg, Marc Methot, Erik Karlsson and Guillaume Latendresse scored for the Senators, who were outshot 50-31, but saw Greg Anderson easily win the goaltending duel with Carey Price.
Rene Bourque and Brendan Gallagher scored for the Habs.
Blues 2, Kings 1
In St. Louis, defenseman Barret Jackman scored his first career playoff goal with 50.4 seconds remaining as the Blues took a 2-0 series lead over the defending Stanley Cup champions.
Patrik Berglund’s deflection tied it early in the third period for St. Louis. Dustin Brown scored for the Kings.
Red Wings 5, Ducks 4 ( OT)
In Anaheim, Gustav Nyquist’s power-play goal at 1:21 of overtime after the Red Wings blew a three-goal lead in the third period to even their playoff series at 1-1.
Johan Franzen scored two goals and Damien Brunner had his first Stanley Cup playoff goal and two assists for the Red Wings. Bobby Ryan scored the tying goal with 2:22 left in regulation.