Stanley Cup Playoffs 2015: Latest Postseason Scores, Bracket and Standings

All three of Friday night's winners in the Stanley Cup playoffs find themselves in different situations. The Ottawa Senators' 5-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens helped to stave off elimination and force a Game 6. The Sens are still on the brink as they try to capture the second of what must be three victories in a row to advance.

The Minnesota Wild took a 3-2 lead over the top-seeded St. Louis Blues with a 4-1 win. Like the Canadiens, the Wild will have an opportunity to close out the series in Sunday's Game 6.

Last but not least, the New York Rangers put down the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1 in overtime to win their first-round series four games to one. The Rangers joined the Anaheim Ducks as the only teams to have advanced to the second round.

The Rangers await the winner of the Washington Capitals and New York Islanders series.

Here's a look at the current bracket and series standings.

Western Conference	Eastern Conference
Minnesota Leads St. Louis (3-2)	Montreal Leads Ottawa (3-2)
Chicago Leads Nashville (3-2)	Tampa Bay and Detroit Are Tied (2-2)
Anaheim Defeated Winnipeg (4-0)	N.Y. Rangers Lead Pittsburgh (4-1)
Calgary Leads Vancouver (3-2)	Washington Leads N.Y. Islanders (3-2)

Craig Anderson Stands on His Head

Tom Mihalek/Associated Press

It's safe to say that Craig Anderson isn't ready for his postseason to end. In driving the Senators to Friday night's victory over the Canadiens, the 33-year-old veteran stopped 45 of 46 shots. Sniper Ways offered this tweet to serve as a bit of visual hyperbole.

It must have felt like Anderson was made of brick to the Canadiens. They simply couldn't find a way past him, aside from the early third-period goal by Tom Gilbert.

As great as Anderson was in Game 5, the Sens still have a ton of work to do to force a Game 7. The two teams will go at it again Sunday, with all the pressure still squarely on the Sens.

Carl Hagelin Sinks the Penguins

Julie Jacobson/Associated Press

The Rangers' Carl Hagelin ended the Penguins' season with his overtime goal at the 10:52 mark of the extra session. It was just his second goal of the series but obviously the biggest overall.

Quite honestly, judging by the way the Penguins backed into the postseason, they gave a better effort than many might have expected in their first-round series with the Rangers. Despite losing in five games, every contest was decided by one goal, and the last two defeats came in overtime.

At least Penguins fans can take solace in the fact that their team gave good effort in defeat.

Wild's Offense Too Much For Blues

Jeff Roberson/Associated Press

The Wild jumped on the Blues early and didn't let up. After Vladimir Tarasenko got the Blues on the board with a first-period goal at the 8:04 mark, the Wild reeled off four unanswered scores to push St. Louis to the brink of elimination.

St. Louis has to feel deflated after this loss. It outshot, outhit and won more faceoffs than the Wild, but it still came up short.

The goat would have to be Blues goalie Jake Allen. He stopped just 15 of 19 shots. Coming into the game, he hadn't allowed more than two goals in 11 straight games. He gave up twice that amount Friday, and now the Blues will be battling for their playoff lives Sunday.