WINNIPEG, Manitoba: Anaheim became the first team to book its place in the final eight of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs by winning 5-2 at Winnipeg on Wednesday to complete a 4-0 series sweep.

In the day’s other results, Ottawa avoided a sweep and stayed alive with victory over Montreal, the New York Rangers beat Pittsburgh in overtime to move within one win of a series victory, and St. Louis squared its series against Minnesota.

Anaheim’s Ryan Kesler scored twice in the third period, while Andrew Cogliano, Emerson Etem and Sam Vatanen — into an empty net — also scored for the Ducks, while goaltender Frederik Andersen made 25 saves.

Bryan Little and Mark Stuart scored for Winnipeg.

Anaheim will face Calgary or Vancouver in the second round. Calgary can clinch that series if it wins at Vancouver on Thursday.

The Jets/Atlanta Thrashers franchise remains without a playoff victory through 15 seasons of its existence. The only previous playoff appearance was in 1999 in Atlanta, a sweep at the hands of the New York Rangers.

Ottawa’s Mike Hoffman scored the sole goal midway through the third period to give the Senators a 1-0 win against Montreal and avoid playoff elimination.

Craig Anderson made 28 saves for Ottawa, which is aiming to become only the fifth team in history to come from 3-0 down in a seven-game playoff series.

Senators coach Dave Cameron moved Hoffman from the fourth line to the second unit during the first period. It paid off in the third when Cody Ceci kept a clearing attempt in at the point and fed Hoffman in the left circle for quick shot that beat Canadiens goalie Carey Price.

New York’s Kevin Hayes scored at 3:14 of overtime to give the Rangers a 2-1 victory at Pittsburgh to take a 3-1 series lead.

In overtime, Martin St. Louis started a goalmouth scramble when he put the puck in front of the net on a wraparound attempt. The puck pinballed to Carl Hagelin and went across the crease for Hayes to flip it past fallen goalie Marc-Andre Fleury.

Pittsburgh’s Patric Hornqvist had opened the scoring at 2:22 of the first period before Derick Brassard tied it at 1-1 with 2:45 left in the second period with his third goal of the series. Fluery and New York’s Henrik Lundqvist each made 22 saves.

The Rangers have won 12 of their past 13 games on the road, allowing just 15 goals.

St. Louis’ Vladimir Tarasenko scored twice as the revived Blues thoroughly dominated host Minnesota in a 6-1 victory that left their Western Conference series balanced at 2-2.

Kevin Shattenkirk had three assists and Jake Allen made 17 saves to help the Blues end a nine-game postseason road losing streak that lasted more than three years.

Patrik Berglund had a goal and an assist, and David Backes and Paul Stastny scored for the first time in the series. So did fourth-line right wing Ryan Reaves, whose one-time shot from the point got past Devan Dubnyk’s glove to give the Blues the early lead.

Dubnyk gave up six goals on only 7 shots and was pulled with 3:10 left in the second period.

Jared Spurgeon scored for Minnesota.