The Columbus Blue Jackets, the Chicago Blackhawks and the Dallas Stars all capitalized on home-ice advantage to win series-squaring games in the NHL playoffs on Wednesday.
Both Columbus and Chicago had 4-3 overtime wins over the Pittsburgh Penguins and St Louis Blues respectively, while Dallas defeated top seeds the Anaheim Ducks 4-2, with all three series now level at 2-2.
Columbus came from three goals down to beat the Penguins.
Photo: Jerry Lai-USA Today
Brandon Dubinsky scored with 22.5 seconds left in regulation to force overtime, before Nick Foligno’s wrist-shot just inside the blue line 2 minutes, 49 seconds into the extra session.
The Blue Jackets recorded their first home playoff victory in the franchise’s 13 seasons, sending the series back to Pittsburgh for Game 5 tomorrow.
Craig Adams, Chris Kunitz, James Neal scored in a 5:01 span in the first period to stake the Penguins to a 3-0 lead, but Ryan Johansen and Dubinsky each had a goal and an assist, while Boone Jenner also scored for Columbus.
Photo: AFP
Chicago’s Patrick Kane scored his second goal of the game at 11:17 of overtime to secure the win over St Louis.
Bryan Bickell had tied it for defending Stanley Cup champions Chicago with 3:52 left in regulation after the Blackhawks blew a 2-0 second-period lead. Andrew Shaw also scored, Jonathan Toews had two assists and Corey Crawford made 30 saves.
Vladimir Tarasenko scored twice for St Louis, while Maxim Lapierre also added a goal.
Dallas’ Cody Eakin and Alex Goligoski scored 1:22 apart with the Stars’ first two shots in the third period as the hosts went on to beat Anaheim.
The Ducks, even without captain Ryan Getzlaf — who was a surprise late withdrawal with an upper-body injury — and Teemu Selane, jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period through goals by Bryan Allen and Patrick Maroon.
Dallas captain Jaime Benn scored off a face-off only 27 seconds into the second period for his third goal in the series and Vernon Fiddler tied it at 6:33 of the second.
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