Havlat lifts Sharks in opener

Martin Havlat scored his second goal of the game 3:34 into the second overtime, giving the visiting San Jose Sharks a 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues in Game 1 of their playoff series Thursday night.

Andrew Desjardins tied it for San Jose with 5:16 in regulation, banging in a one-timer from the slot from Tommy Wingels, and Dan Boyle had two assists. Antti Niemmi, who won a Stanley Cup with Chicago in 2010, made 40 saves.

Patrik Berglund scored his first two career playoff goals in the third period for the Blues, the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference.

Game 2 is Saturday night in St. Louis, and the Blues will be seeking their first postseason victory since 2004.

Bruins 1, Capitals 0, OT: Chris Kelly scored on a long slap shot 1:18 into overtime and defending Stanley Cup champion Boston beat visiting Washington in the opener of their first-round playoff series.

Braden Holtby made 29 saves for the Capitals.

Tim Thomas stopped all 17 shots he faced for Boston.

Game 2 is Saturday at Boston.

Rangers 4, Senators 2: Marian Gaborik and Brian Boyle scored minutes apart in the second period to break open a tight game, and top-seeded New York opened its first-round Eastern Conference series with a victory over visiting Ottawa.

The Rangers, the No. 1 seed in the East for the first time since they won the Stanley Cup in 1994, shook off their 1-2-1 regular-season mark against the Senators and easily dispatched them in Game 1.

Game 2 is Saturday at New York.

Coyotes 3, Blackhawks 2, OT: At Glendale, Ariz., Martin Hanzal scored 9:29 into overtime and Phoenix opened the playoffs with a win over Chicago.

Chicago's Brent Seabrook scored with 14.2 seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime.

Phoenix hosts Game 2 on Saturday.