St. Louis Blues Win in OT, NHL News

David Backes gave the St. Louis Blues a big gift on his 32nd birthday, with another overtime goal to go home even.

What a serenade of "Happy Birthday" for the Blues captain from his teammates after Backes scored off a rebound during a power play 10:58 into overtime of Game 2 on Sunday for a 4-3 victory over the Dallas Stars.

"I want to know what they did with the money their parents gave them for voice lessons," Backes said with a smile.

After blowing a two-goal lead while getting outshot 13-2 in the third period, the Blues took advantage of their second power-play chance in overtime. Backes followed up Alexander Steen's shot 17 seconds after Antoine Roussel was called for interference.

"The thing that impressed me more than anything was the way we played in the overtime. Outstanding," coach Ken Hitchcock said. "We went into attack mode and stayed on it the whole time. I was really impressed with the way we did OT."

Instead of a 0-2 hole, the Blues go home 1-1 in the best-of-seven series matching the Western Conference's top two teams. Game 3 is Tuesday night, with Game 4 also in St. Louis on Thursday before the series returns to Dallas for Game 5 on Saturday.

When Roussel was asked if the penalty was the right call, he responded, "I don't know. They have a tough job. It's not easy to be a ref out there."

Roussel slammed his stick when exiting the penalty box after Backes scored to end the game.

"That second (penalty) was tough. He was trying to stay onside," Stars coach Lindy Ruff said. "It doesn't matter whether I like the call or don't like the call. ... We looked like we were going to get an odd-numbered rush and they got a couple hooks on (Stars rookie Radek Faksa) him just before going through the middle of the ice, which I was frustrated with."

Antti Niemi had stopped 19 consecutive shots since relieving Kari Lehtonen after the first period until Backes scored.

Sharks 3, Predators 2

The Nashville Predators frustrated Joe Pavelski and San Jose's top line for much of the night, forcing turnovers, blocking shots and limiting chances.

That all changed with one big shift late in the game that put the Sharks in control of their second-round series.

Pavelski scored the tiebreaking goal with 2:40 left in regulation and Martin Jones stopped 37 shots to lead San Jose to a 3-2 victory over Nashville on Sunday night and a 2-0 series lead.

"I don't think it was our line's best game, by any means," Pavelski said. "Our last shift, you take a look, there's three minutes left, it's tied, you hope for a chance."

He got one and San Jose's captain delivered just as he always seems to do in the biggest moments.

Joe Thornton started the sequence by sending a cross-ice pass to Matt Nieto, whose initial shot was stopped by Pekka Rinne. But Pavelski knocked the rebound in for his sixth goal of the playoffs to give the Sharks a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

Sunday, May 1 Scoreboard

St. Louis 4, Dallas 3 (OT)

Game 2 - Series tied 1-1

San Jose 3, Nashville 2

Game 2 - Sharks lead 2-0

Monday, May 2 Schedule (Time Central)

Washington at Pittsburgh

Game 3 - Series tied 1-1, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, May 3 Schedule (All Times Central)

Tampa Bay at NY Islanders

Game 3 - Series tied 1-1, 6 p.m.

San Jose at Nashville

Game 3 - Sharks lead 2-0, 8 p.m.

Dallas at St. Louis

Game 3 - Series tied 1-1, 8:30 p.m.