DALLAS — Blues captain David Backes scored off a rebound during a power play 10:58 into overtime and St. Louis beat the Dallas Stars 4-3 in Game 2 on Sunday to get even in the second-round series.
St. Louis was on its second power play of overtime after Antoine Roussel was called for interference.
Vladimir Tarasenko took a slap shot that defenseman Alex Goligoski blocked. But the Blues kept charging and Backes scored on the rebound of Alexander Steen’s shot.
The series matching the Western Conference’s top two teams switches to St. Louis for Game 3 on Tuesday night.
Antti Niemi had stopped 19 consecutive shots since relieving Kari Lehtonen after the first period until Backes scored.
Blues goalie Brian Elliott had 31 saves.
SHARKS 3, PREDATORS 2: Joe Pavelski scored the tiebreaking goal with 2:40 left in regulation and Martin Jones stopped 36 shots to lead San Jose to a victory over Nashville, in San Jose, and a 2-0 lead in their second-round playoff series.
Logan Couture added a power-play goal and Joe Thornton scored an empty-netter to put the Sharks in control as the series shifts to Nashville for Game 3 on Tuesday night.
Mattias Ekholm tied the game earlier in the third and Ryan Johansen also scored for Nashville.
After San Jose blew a one-goal lead earlier in the third, the top line delivered when it mattered most.
Joe Thornton slid a cross-ice pass to Matt Nieto, whose initial shot was stopped by Rinne. But Pavelski batted the rebound in for his sixth goal of the playoffs to give the Sharks the lead.
NOTES
CAPITALS: Defenseman Brooks Orpik has been suspended three games for his late hit to the head of Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Olli Maatta.
Orpik will miss Game 3 Monday, Game 4 Wednesday and Game 5 Saturday. He’d be eligible to return if the series gets to Game 6 on May 10.
Orpik hit Maatta in the head after the puck was gone four minutes into Game 2 Saturday and was given a two-minute minor penalty for interference.
After a hearing with the NHL’s department of player safety, the punishment was far more severe.
Maatta left the game and did not return.
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