Blackhawks, Blues headed to Game 7

BLACKHAWKS SCORE FIVE UNANSWERED GOALS TO FORCE GAME 7
Down 3-1 and facing elimination, the Chicago Blackhawks scored five unanswered goals, including the go-ahead goal by Dale Weise (1-0-1), to earn their first home win of the series and force Game 7 against the St. Louis Blues.
* Via Elias, the Blackhawks forced Game 7 after trailing 3-1 in a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Playoffs series for the fourth time in 14 all-time scenarios. The others: 2011 CQF vs. VAN, 2013 CSF vs. DET and 2014 CF vs. LAK.

* Elias adds that the Blackhawks overcame a multi-goal deficit to win while facing elimination for the second time in their history (also Game 7 of 1965 Semifinals at the Detroit Red Wings). The Blues had won 35 of their past 36 playoff games where they led by at least two goals.
* The Blackhawks won their ninth consecutive Game 6 and improved to 14-1 in such games since the start of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs. They also moved to 13-4 when facing elimination in that span.

* Weise, who was acquired from the Montreal Canadiens on Feb. 26, scored his first goal with the Blackhawks (regular season and playoffs) and his sixth career postseason goal (37 GP), four of which have been game-winners. Andrew Ladd (1-1-2), who rejoined Chicago one day before Weise, scored his first playoff goal since he scored in Chicago's Stanley Cup-clinching win in Game 6 of the 2010 Final at the Philadelphia Flyers.
SATURDAY'S RESULTSHome Team in Caps
PITTSBURGH 6, NY Rangers 3
- PIT wins 4-1
ANAHEIM 5, Nashville 2
- ANA leads 3-2
CHICAGO 6, St. Louis 3
- series tied 3-3
ROOKIES PROPEL PENGUINS INTO SECOND ROUND
The Pittsburgh Penguins scored four goals in the second period, powered by two goals and an assist from Bryan Rust, and Matt Murray made 38 saves to lead them into the Eastern Conference Second Round.
* Murray became the second goaltender in Penguins history to win each of his first three career playoff starts. Les Binkley began his postseason career with four straight wins in 1970.
* Via Elias, four different goaltenders younger than Murray (21 years, 334 days) have

(and two in the past 22 years).

* Rust became the first rookie in Penguins history to earn at least three points in a playoff game. He has one such performance in 55 career regular-season appearances: March 6 at the New Jersey Devils (1-2-3).
* The Penguins, who were eliminated by the Rangers in each of the past two seasons (2014 fecond round and 2015 first round), improved to 10-3 in 13 all-time best-of-seven series when winning three of the opening four games.
DUCKS TAKE SERIES LEAD WITH THIRD STRAIGHT WIN
The Anaheim Ducks scored three times in the final 12 minutes of the third period, including what held up as the game-winning goal by Sami Vatanen (1-1-2), to earn their third straight win and push the Nashville Predators to the brink of elimination.
* The Ducks own a 3-2 lead after dropping the first two games of a series for the second time in seven such scenarios (also 2014 CSF vs. LAK).
* Anaheim improved to 6-0 in their past six Game 5s since the 2013 Western Conference Quarterfinals against Detroit.
* Frederik Andersen made 27 saves, highlighted by a
point-blank toe stop
with the score tied, to pick up his third straight win since returning to the net. He's 20-1-2 in his past 25 appearances since Jan. 13 (regular season and playoffs).

MILESTONES & BENCHMARKS
* Penguins captain Sidney Crosby had two assists to become the fourth active player to earn 80 career assists in the playoffs. The others: Jaromir Jagr (123), Marian Hossa (96) and Patrik Elias (80).
* Captain Ryan Getzlaf (0-2-2) moved within one point of becoming the first player to earn 100 career playoff points for the Ducks (29-70-99 in 102 GP).
* Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa became the 22nd player in Stanley Cup Playoffs history to skate in 200 career games (skaters and goaltenders).
LOOSE PUCKS
Blues forward Vladimir Tarasenko (1-0-1) scored his fourth goal of the series and 14th of his playoff career (19 GP). Via Elias, only one player has scored

: Joe Sakic (15) . . . The Penguins improved to 18-3-0 in their past 21 games since March 11 (regular season and playoffs) . . . Blackhawks defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk, who signed as an undrafted free agent out of the University of New Hampshire, scored his first career playoff goal (10 GP) . . . The NHL announced start times for the two games Monday: Game 6 of Ducks-Predators (8:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. CT / 5:00 p.m. PT in Nashville) and Game 7 of Blues-Blackhawks (8:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. CT in St. Louis).
SNEAK PEEK AT SUNDAY'S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Washington @ Philadelphia, WSH leads 3-2, 12:00 p.m., CBC, NBC, TVAS
Dallas @ Minnesota, DAL leads 3-2, 3:00 p.m. ET, NBC, SN, TVAS
Florida @ NY Islanders, NYI leads 3-2, 7:00 p.m. ET, CBC, NBCSN, TVAS, MSG+, SUN