2015 NHL playoff scores: Ducks beat Jets in OT; Rangers, Wild reclaim series leads

What a night in Winnipeg.

Nine goals, four lead changes, more than 100 combined hits. And a huge, potentially back-breaking, loss for the Jets.

The Anaheim Ducks, who continue to defy the odds with their late game heroics, won their 26th game of the year in which they trailed after 40 minutes. Rickard Rakell, he of nine regular season goals, notched the game-winner in overtime to give the Ducks a 3-0 series lead and push the Jets to the brink of elimination.

According to Elias, Anaheim is the first team in NHL history to win three consecutive times when down in the third period in a single series.

Earlier in the night, the New York Rangers and Minnesota Wild each took 2-1 leads in their respective best-of-seven bouts. The Pittsburgh Penguins seem over matched by New York’s depth, speed and elite goaltending. St. Louis once again is falling apart when it matters most, a feat the Blues have all but perfected at this point.

The most telling quote of the day came from Blues goalie Jake Allen, who turned in another solid performance between the pipes despite the loss: “(Minnesota) fought for 60 minutes and unfortunately tonight, we didn’t at all.”

New York Rangers 2, Pittsburgh Penguins 1

Minnesota Wild 3, St. Louis Blues 0

Anaheim Ducks 5, Winnipeg Jets 4 (OT)

1. The Blues’ best players have to be better

Minnesota took a 2-1 series lead over St. Louis, and it wouldn’t be surprising if the Wild make quick work of the Blues, who have lost nine consecutive road playoff games.

There are a lot of reasons for Blues fans to be concerned, one of which is the mediocre play from their top forward line, comprised of Jori Lehtera, Alex Steen and Vladimir Tarasenko. In Game 1, the trio failed to put a shot on goal until the final minute of regulation. On Monday, it took more than 40 minutes for them to accomplish that feat. Steen finished with two shots, and both Lehtera and Tarasenko failed to get a single one.

2. Bryan Little should finally get the attention he deserves

The Jets forward has flown under the radar since he broke into the league back in 2007. Little scored 31 times during his sophomore campaign and has reached the 20-goal plateau in each of the last three full NHL seasons, yet rarely gets talked about by the greater hockey community. On Monday, he set a personal milestone with his first-ever playoff tally -- doing so by firing a wicked slapshot by Ducks netminder Frederik Andersen.

3. Keith Yandle can thread the ol’ needle

Rakell sent Winnipeg fans home sad with this OT goal.

Via Mike Kelly: The Jets were 30-2-6 when leading after two periods in the regular season, and 0-2-1 in the playoffs.