St. Louis takes 2-1 lead in NHL playoff series over Dallas
ST. LOUIS (AP) — This time, the St. Louis Blues kept up the offensive pressure after taking a two-goal lead.
Alexander Steen and David Backes had two goals each and the defense closed down the Dallas Stars for a 6-1 National Hockey League victory that put them up 2-1 in the second-round series Tuesday.
Vladimir Tarasenko had a goal and two assists, Troy Brouwer had a goal and assist and Brian Elliott was strong when he needed to be for the Blues in their first lopsided triumph of the postseason. Their other five wins were decided by one goal, including 4-3 in overtime in Game 2 on Sunday after the Stars came from two goals down.
St. Louis Blues' Troy Brouwer, right, scores past Dallas Stars goalie Antti Niemi, of Finland, during the second period of Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Western Conference semifinals, Tuesday, May 3, 2016, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
"Last game in the third period, we had a little bit of a letdown, sitting back on our heels, and we made it more of a game than we wanted to be," Brouwer said. "Tonight, we kept pushing, we kept attacking."
St. Louis scored six unanswered goals after Colton Sceviour gave Dallas the early advantage, three coming in a breakaway second period. Steen capped the big second period with a power-play goal, matching his postseason career high for goals in a game.
"He's one of the most complete players in the league," Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said of Steen.
In other games Tuesday, Brian Boyle scored at 2:48 of overtime to lift the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 5-4 victory over the New York Islanders for a 2-1 lead in their second-round series. Shea Weber scored the go-ahead goal and had an assist and the Nashville Predators beat the San Jose Sharks to pull to within 2-1 in their Western Conference series.
Nikita Kucherov tied it in the final minute of regulation, and Ryan Callahan, Victor Hedman and Vladislav Namestnikov also scored for the Lightning. Ben Bishop stopped 35 shots.
On the winning goal, the Lightning were on an odd-man rush and Hedman fired a shot from the left side that was wide, but the rebound came off the boards and right to Boyle in front at the right side of the goal and he tapped it in for the win.
Josh Bailey, back after missing the first two games of the series with an upper-body injury, had two goals, and Nick Leddy and Cal Clutterbuck also scored for the Islanders. Thomas Greiss finished with 36 saves.
James Neal and Filip Forsberg each scored on the power-play for the Predators at Nashville. Colin Wilson had a goal and Pekka Rinne made 26 saves for the winners.
Patrick Marleau scored for the Sharks, who lost for the first time away from San Jose this postseason and first since a loss at Arizona on March 17.
St. Louis Blues left wing Jaden Schwartz (17) celebrates with right wing David Backes (42) after Backes scored past Dallas Stars goaltender Antti Niemi in the first period of Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Western Conference semifinals, Tuesday, May 3, 2016, in St. Louis. (Chris Lee/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP) EDWARDSVILLE INTELLIGENCER OUT; THE ALTON TELEGRAPH OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT
Nashville Predators defenseman Shea Weber celebrates after scoring a goal against the San Jose Sharks during the second period in Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup Western Conference semifinal playoff series Tuesday, May 3, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Ryan Callahan, center, jumps into the arms of center Brian Boyle (11) as Tampa Bay Lightning center Cedric Paquette (13) rushes in after Boyle scored the game-winning goal against the New York Islanders during the overtime period of Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference semifinals, Tuesday, May 3, 2016, in New York. The Lightning won 5-4. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
