NHL playoffs 2015: Lightning knock off Red Wings, Penguins pull even with Rangers

Saturday night was supposed to be all about Connor McDavid. Instead, it belonged to the man many have compared him to over the last six months.

Minnesota had no answer for the young St. Louis Blues winger on Saturday. Tarasenko recorded his first career playoff hat trick in a 4-1 win for St. Louis. He’s shown all season that he can willfully dominate a game, and the Blues must be ecstatic to know that applies to playoff hockey as well.

The series now shifts to Pittsburgh, tied at 1-1.

1. New York’s special teams failed them.

The NHL announced the draft order on Saturday night before NHL playoff action resumed, and the Oilers came out on top of the draft lottery despite owning just an 11.5 percent chance of claiming first overall. The Sabres entered the lottery with the best odds at 20 percent, while the Coyotes entered with a 13.5 percent chance.

Buffalo and Arizona will pick second and third overall, respectively.

The teams will travel on Sunday before getting back on the ice for Game 3 on Monday.

Despite the blowout loss, the Red Wings still have an advantage as the series shifts back to Detroit for Game 3. Getting Mrazek sorted out will be a key. The 23-year-old was tremendous in Game 1 before struggling mightily in Game 2.

The Ducks also won all three matchups with the Jets during the regular season, though Anaheim head coach Bruce Bodreau knows his team has a tough task ahead of it.

“I thought it was a really hard game from the drop of the puck to the last second,” Boudreau told NHL.com on Thursday. “We haven’t played in a game like that in a long time. There was a lot of hitting. I’m sure a lot of guys on both teams are feeling it tonight. That’s the beginning of potentially seven [games]. We know what we’re up against.”

The Penguins need to flip momentum desperately. They entered the playoffs coming off a tumultuous month of hockey, and are facing down another bout at Madison Square Garden. Pittsburgh needs offense, most especially from its stars, Crosby and Malkin. The duo totaled three of the Penguins’ rather paltry 25 shots on goal during the game.

The Rangers won six of their last seven games of the regular season to preserve the Presidents’ Trophy. They’ll be expected to notch another win at MSG on Saturday, where they won 25 games this past season. The Penguins had a 20-13-8 record on the road during the regular season, but went 1-3-1 in their final five contests away from the Consol Energy Center.

Expect Tampa Bay to come out gunning.

NBC will provide national coverage of Game 2 from Tampa Bay.