Smith Gets Assist on OT Winner

Maple Creek's Zack Smith is an NHL playoff overtime hero by association.

He got an assist on Chris Neil's game winner 1:17 into the first overtime, as the Ottawa Senators beat the New York Rangers 3-2 to tie the series up at a game apiece.

That was one of three overtime games on Saturday. Nicklas Backstrom scored in double-OT to give Washington a 2-1 win over Boston and tie the series, and Bryan Bickell's second of the game was the overtime winner for Chicago, as the Blackhawks beat Phoenix 4-3 to knot that series at a game apiece.

Aneroid's Patrick Marleau and the San Jose Sharks were shut out 3-0 by St Louis, and that series is also tied at one.

There is some NHL playoff action later this morning as Nashville heads to Detroit to take on former Bronco Ian White and the Red Wings with the series tied at 1-1. The face-off from Joe Louis Arena is at 10:00am. Other games today have Pittsburgh visiting Philadelphia, with Shaunavon's Brayden Coburn and the Flyers up 2-0, New Jersey takes on Florida after winning the series opener on Friday, and Vancouver will look to get back into their series with the LA Kings tonight at Staples Center. The Canucks dropped the first two games of the series at home to the Kings to trail 2-0.
 
In the WHL playoffs, the Kamloops Blazers are still alive after beating Portland 7-2, to force a sixth game in that series after being down 3-0. The series resumes tomorrow in Kamloops. Meanwhile, Tri-City beat Spokane 5-3 to take a 3-2 lead in that series, and can clinch tomorrow in Spokane.