Blues even series on Backes' winner

St. Louis Blues center David Backes scored the game-winning goal in overtime to give the Blues a 4-3 victory over the Dallas Stars to even the series at 1-1.
St. Louis Blues center David Backes scored the game-winning goal in overtime to give the Blues a 4-3 victory over the Dallas Stars to even the series at 1-1.

DALLAS -- 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 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.

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, who scored the overtime-forcing goal with 2:36 left in regulation, then had their shots before the game-deciding penalty.

Tarasenko took a slap shot that was blocked by Alex Goligoski. With the defender still stunned from the puck hitting his knee, the Blues kept charging and Backes scored on the rebound of Alexander Steen's shot.

Backes is only the second player in Blues history with two overtime goals in the same postseason, having scored the overtime winner in the opener of the Blues' first-round series against Chicago.

Benn knocked a loose puck past Elliott to tie the game at 3-3 late in the third period, when Cody Eakin got his third assist of the game.

SHARKS 3, PREDATORS 2

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Joe Pavelski scored the tiebreaking goal with 2:40 left in regulation and Martin Jones stopped 36 shots to lead the San Jose Sharks over the Nashville Predators and a 2-0 lead in their second-round playoff series.

Logan Couture added a power-play goal and Joe Thornton scored an empty-netter to put the Sharks in control as the series shifts to Nashville for Game 3 on Tuesday night.

Mattias Ekholm tied the game earlier in the third and Ryan Johansen also scored for Nashville.

After San Jose blew a one-goal lead earlier in the third, the top line delivered when it mattered most. Joe Thornton slid a cross-ice pass to Matt Nieto, whose initial shot was stopped by Rinne. But Pavelski batted the rebound in for his sixth goal of the playoffs to give the Sharks the lead.

Sports on 05/02/2016

Upcoming Events