Stars Beat Blues in OT, Predators Edge Sharks

In short order, the Dallas Stars went from embarrassed to triumphant. Cody Eakin scored at 2:58 of overtime and the Stars beat the St. Louis Blues 3-2 on Thursday night, bouncing back smartly from a blowout loss two days earlier to tie the second-round series at two games apiece.

"I said, `It's time for us to man up,' and I thought we did," coach Lindy Ruff said. "I thought our leaders were our leaders."

Patrick Sharp set up the winner and also scored for the Stars, coming off a 6-1 loss in Game 3. Rookie Radek Faksa had the other goal, his third of the postseason.

"I know it was ugly for a lot of the guys and the team in general for Game 3," Sharp said. "Credit to the team, we were able to put it behind us."

Vladimir Tarasenko scored his sixth goal of the playoffs on a first-period breakaway and added an assist for St. Louis, giving him five points in the last two games. Paul Stastny had his first of the postseason off a deflection from Tarasenko.

The Stars, who finished first overall in the Western Conference, regained home-ice advantage heading into Game 5 on Saturday in Dallas.

"It doesn't matter if we're in Dallas, if we're in St. Louis, if we're in the middle of nowhere," Blues captain David Backes said. "We've got to play our same style of game, put it out there and when we do that the chips fall on our side of the table more often than not."

Eakin has a goal and seven assists in the postseason and hustled to get into position on the deciding score. He beat Brian Elliott on a 3-on-2 break after getting a stick on Jori Lehtera's shot in tight on the other end against Kari Lehtonen.

Predators 4, Sharks 3

Mike Fisher ended his own personal playoff drought with his first overtime goal in 12 years, giving the exhausted Nashville Predators plenty to celebrate.

Fisher scored his second goal at 11:12 of the third overtime, and the Predators beat the San Jose Sharks 4-3 early Friday morning in the longest game in franchise history.

"It took a long time, but thanks we have Fish," Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne said.

With the victory, the Predators won their first overtime game on home ice. More importantly, they tied this second-round, best-of-seven series at 2-2. The Sharks needed only five games in beating Nashville in the first round in both 2006 and 2007. Nashville coach Peter Laviolette, in his second season, said teams have a lot invested in a game that goes this deep.

"To win a game like that is big," Laviolette said. "To think about the other scenario, you're 3-1 the other way. This ties it up 2-2. It shortens the series. Our guys played like champs tonight."

James Neal scored with 4:21 left in the third period, tying it up at 3-3, and the teams went scoreless during the first two overtimes and headed to a third extra period -- the first in the NHL playoffs this year.

Thursday, May 5 Scoreboard

Dallas 3, St. Louis 2 (OT)

Game 4 - Series tied 2-2

Nashville 4, San Jose 3(3 OT)

Game 4 - Series tied 2-2

Friday, May 6 Schedule (All Times Central)

Tampa Bay at NY Islanders

Game 4 - Lightning lead 2-1, 6 p.m.

Saturday, May 7 Schedule (All Times Central)

St. Louis at Dallas

Game 5 - Blues lead 2-1, noon

Pittsburgh at Washington

Game 5 - Penguins lead 3-1, 6:15 p.m.

Nashville at San Jose

Game 5 - Sharks lead 2-1, 9 p.m.

Sunday, May 8 Schedule (Time Central)

NY Islanders at Tampa Bay

Game 5 - Lightning lead 2-1, 2 p.m.