Senators, Blackhawks advance in playoffs

Cory Conacher scored twice and Craig Anderson stopped 33 shots as the Ottawa Senators beat the Montreal Canadiens 6-1 to reach the second round of the NHL playoffs. The victory gave the Senators a 4-1 triumph in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round series. Erik Condra notched a goal and two assists for Ottawa, which reached the second round for the first time since it advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2007. Kyle Turris, Zack Smith and Daniel Alfredsson also scored for Ottawa. P.K. Subban scored the lone goal for the Canadiens, who had to make do without captain Brian Gionta (bicep surgery), forwards Lars Eller (concussion, broken nose), Brandon Prust and Ryan White (upper-body injuries) and starting goaltender Carey Price -- who sustained an unspecified lower-body injury late in game four. In the Western Conference, the Chicago Blackhawks reached the second round with a 5-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild. Corey Crawford made 21 saves and Marian Hossa delivered two goals and an assist to help Chicago polish off a 4-1 series victory. Marcus Kruger had a goal and an assist, Andrew Shaw and Patrick Sharp scored a goal apiece and Duncan Keith and Jonathan Toews notched two assists each for the Blackhawks -- who avoided a third straight first-round exit after winning the Stanley Cup in 2010. Torrey Mitchell scored the Wild's only goal. Minnesota was in the playoffs for the first time since the 2007-09 season. From: AFP