Dallas Stars Fall To St. Louis Blues In OT, NHL Series Tied 1-1
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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM/AP) - 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 best-of-seven series matching the Western Conference's top two teams switches to St. Louis for Game 3 on Tuesday night. Game 4 will also be there Thursday before the series returns to Dallas for Game 5 on Saturday.
Dallas forced overtime by erasing a two-goal deficit in the third period, when the Stars outshot St. Louis 13-2.
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, including big shots by Jason Spezza and Stars captain Jamie Benn about a minute apart in overtime.
St. Louis had a quick extra-man chance in overtime when John Klingberg was whistled for holding as Vladimir Tarasenko, who scored 40 goals in the regular season and four in the first-round series, was charging toward the net. But Niemi, who took over as the Stars' goalie in the second period, stopped three shots in that 2-minute span.
Spezza and Benn had their shots before the game-turning penalty, and Backes' third goal of the playoffs came 17 seconds into the power play.
Benn scored the OT-forcing goal with 2:36 left in regulation. Kris Russell's shot hit Cody Eakin, and Benn then knocked the loose puck into the net
Stars rookie center Mattias Janmark had a breakaway goal 4 1/2 minutes into the final period, and Dallas was almost immediately on the power play after the ensuing faceoff. But the Stars were 0 for 4 with the extra man, and are now 1 for 20 on power plays at home this postseason.
Eakin assisted on all three Dallas goals.
Troy Brouwer had a power-play goal and an assist to help the Blues take a 3-1 lead in the first period.
Robby Fabbri and Kevin Shattenkirk each had two assists for St. Louis.
Lehtonen allowed three goals on five shots, and was replaced in net by Niemi to start the second period. The Stars have used both goalies all season, including the first round against Minnesota, but this was the first time coach Lindy Ruff made an in-game switch during the playoffs.
The Stars led only 3 1/2 minutes into the game when Benn passed from behind the net to Goligoski for a one-timer. Their lead lasted only 35 seconds, before Patrik Berglund's slap shot from the left circle across the crease in front right corner of the net.
When Dallas failed to clear the puck 3 minutes later, the Blues took their second shot and scored their second goal.
Brouwer made a cross-ice pass to defenseman Joe Edmundson for his first career playoff goal. Brower added a power-play tally with 1:20 left in the first when he knocked in the rebound of Kevin Shattenkirk's shot to make it 3-1.
NOTES: Elliott needed a moment to gather himself in the third period, and get a new facemask, after Spezza's point blank shot went into his grill. ... Brouwer had his third multipoint game in his 87 playoff games. ... Stars RW Patrick Eaves was scratched, still hobbled after getting hit on the lower leg by a teammate's shot late in Game 1. ... St. Louis C Steve Ott, the former Star, was a scratch. RW Ryan Reaves played after being a scratch the past six playoff games. Raves played about 12 1/2 minutes combined the first two games in the series against Chicago.
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