NHL playoff roundup: Blackhawks controversially even series with Blues

[April 16, 2016]  The Sports Xchange

ST. LOUIS -- Andrew Shaw scored a power-play goal on his own rebound with 4:19 to play to break a tie and lead the Chicago Blackhawks to a 3-2 victory Friday over the St. Louis Blues and even their opening-round playoff series at 1-1.

The goal came with seven seconds left in a penalty to Vladimir Tarasenko, who was called for slashing Shaw. It was allowed to stand after a video review.

Chicago's Artemi Panarin added an empty-net goal with 1:26 to play before St. Louis' Kevin Shattenkirk scored with two seconds left.

The Blues appeared to have taken a 2-1 lead with 7:46 left in regulation on the second goal of the game from Tarasenko, but the Blackhawks challenged the goal and after a video review it was ruled that Jori Lehtera had been offside by a fraction of a step on the play.

Duncan Keith scored the other goal for the Blackhawks.

Lightning 5, Red Wings 1

TAMPA, Fla. -- For the second game in a row, Tyler Johnson and Alex Killorn combined for a go-ahead goal in the third period, sparking Tampa Bay over Detroit at Amalie Arena and a 2-0 lead in the opening-round series in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Killorn skated behind the net and passed the puck back to Johnson, who poked it in around the near post for a 3-2 lead with 13:28 to play, two minutes after Detroit had tied the score.

Johnson scored two third-period goals, and Killorn, Nikita Kucherov, Brian Boyle one each for the Lightning, while Dylan Larkin and Brad Richards scored for the Red Wings.

Panthers 3, Islanders 1

SUNRISE, Fla. -- Reilly Smith and Nick Bjugstad ignited the offense and Roberto Luongo keyed the defense as Florida defeated New York in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series at the BB&T Center.

The series is tied 1-1. Game 3 in the best-of-seven series is set for Sunday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Smith and Bjugstad each had one goal and one assist. The 37-year-old Luongo, who looked bad in allowing five goals in a loss to the Islanders on Thursday, was sharp 24 hours later with 41 saves.

John Tavares had the Islanders lone goal.

Predators 3, Ducks 2

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Filip Forsberg scored with 9 minutes, 35 seconds to play to give Nashville a victory over Anaheim in the first game of the Stanley Cup Western Conference quarterfinals at the Honda Center.

James Neal and Craig Wilson also scored while goalie Pekka Rinne stopped 27 shots for the Predators.

Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Kesler scored the Ducks' goals, and goalie John Gibson made 30 saves.

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