Sutter, Stempniak, Jokinen score 2:13 apart to lift Pens past Jackets 4-3 for 2-1 series lead

Tuesday, 04.22.2014 / 2:35 AM The Canadian Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Brandon Sutter, Lee Stempniak and Jussi Jokinen scored in a span of just 2:13 of the third period as the Pittsburgh Penguins took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven playoff series against the Columbus Blue Jackets with a 4-3 victory.

Brooks Orpik added a goal in the final seconds of the second period Monday as the Penguins stormed back from deficits of 2-0 and 3-1. Marc Andre-Fleury had 27 saves.

Boone Jenner and Jack Johnson staked the Blue Jackets to an early lead in the opening 3:18, with Cam Atkinson getting credit for a goal early in the final period that stretched the lead to 3-1.

Game 4 is Wednesday in Columbus.

At St. Paul, Minnesota, Mikael Granlund's diving goal 5:08 into overtime allowed the Wild to pull within 2-1 their series against the Colorado Avalanche with a 1-0 win.

Semyon Varlamov stopped 45 of 46 shots, a club playoff record for shots on goal by the Wild.

Granlund cut toward the net for a wrist shot, and as he was falling forward took a stab at the puck to finally put one past Varlamov.

Darcy Kuemper made 22 saves, but the Wild goalie in his first career playoff start was just as good as his counterpart.

Game 4 is at Xcel Energy Center on Thursday.

Chicago's Corey Crawford made 34 saves in his third career post-season shutout as the Blackhawks won 2-0 to get back into their playoff series with the St. Louis Blues.

Jonathan Toews scored in the first period and Marcus Kruger added an empty-netter as Chicago bounced back after a pair of overtime losses in St. Louis. Toews' 21st post-season goal was only the second score by a Blackhawks forward in the series.

Ryan Miller shook off another slow start and made 23 saves for St. Louis.

Game 4 is Wednesday.

The Dallas Stars won their first home playoff game in six years after Kari Lehtonen had 37 saves for his first career post-season victory, 3-0 over the Anaheim Ducks.

Dallas captain Jamie Benn skated out of the penalty box to score late in the first period, and 19-year-old rookie Valeri Nichushkin added a goal for the Stars in Game 3 of the best-of-seven series. The top-seeded Ducks won each of the first two games at home, both one-goal results.

Game 4 is Wednesday.

Lehtonen, who held up through five Anaheim power plays, had a kick save near the end of one of those in the final minute of the first period. That came right before Benn came out of the penalty box and skated toward the other end for the winning goal.

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