Ohio: Columbus, Chicago and Dallas all capitalised 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 Pittsburgh and St. Louis respectively, while Dallas defeated top-seeded Anaheim 4-2, with all three series now level at 2-2.
Columbus came from three goals down to beat the Penguins. Brandon Dubinsky scored with 22.5 seconds left in regulation to force overtime before Nick Foligno’s wrist shot just inside the blue line 2:49 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 on Saturday.
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 and Boone Jenner also scored for Columbus.
Chicago’s Patrick Kane scored his second goal of the game at 11:17 of overtime to secure the win over St. Louis.
Kane carried the puck down the left side as teammates Ben Smith and Brandon Saad rushed towards the net, and beat Ryan Miller with a well-placed wrist shot.
Bryan Bickell had tied it for defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago with 3:52 left in regulaton 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, and Maxim Lapierre added a goal.
Dallas’ Cody Eakin and Alex Goligoski scored 1:22 apart with the Stars’ first two shots in the third period, and 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 faceoff 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.
