Isles even series with 1-seed Pens
John Tavares scored the game-winner with 9:49 left as the Islanders tied their first-round series with the Penguins with a wild 6-4 victory on Tuesday in Uniondale, N.Y.
Only the final lead was safe in Game 4.
Tavares slammed in his own rebound in front after Brad Boyes fed him following a turnover by reigning league MVP Evgeni Malkin. It was the Islanders’ third onegoal advantage in the game and the one that earned them a 2-2 tie in the highly entertaining series that has featured 5-4 and 6-4 finishes at Nassau Coliseum.
Tavares was serenaded with cheers of “MV-P” from the excited crowd that is believing an upset is possible. Casey Cizikas shoved in a shot with 1:16 left to add some insurance.
Captain Mark Streit added two goals for the eighth-seeded Islanders, and Brian Strait and Kyle Okposo each had one. Former Shark Evgeni Nabokov made 27 saves for New York.
Marc-Andre Fleury allowed six goals on 24 shots, his third straight game allowing at least four goals following a series-opening 26-save shutout.
Blackhawks 3, Wild 0: Patrick Sharp scored two goals for Chicago, which put host Minnesota on the brink of elimination. … Bryan Bickell also scored and Corey Crawford made 25 saves for the Blackhawks, who took a 3-1 series lead. … Wild goalie Josh Harding’s injury forced Darcy Kuemper into action after the first intermission. Sharp scored on Chicago’s first shot at the rookie 62 seconds into the second period. … Minnesota remains the only NHL playoff team without a powerplay goal this postseason. Senators 3, Canadiens 2: Kyle Turris scored 2:32 into overtime to cap host Ottawa’s rally from a 2-0 second-period deficit and give the East’s seventh seed a 3-1 series lead. … Rookie Cory Conacher had scored with 23 seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime, with Turris getting an assist. … Craig Anderson made 26 saves for the win. … Montreal goalie Carey Price had 30 saves through regulation, but sustained an undisclosed injury late in the third period and was replaced by Peter Budaj for overtime. … P.K. Subban and Alex Galchenyuk scored in the second period to give Montreal its lead. Mika Zibanejad scored for Ottawa with 8:05 left in the third to make it 2-1.
Briefly: Subban, Pittsburgh’s Kris Letang and Minnesota’s Ryan Suter were announced as finalists for the Norris Trophy, given to the NHL’s top defenseman. … The Sabres removed the interim tag from head coach Ron Rolston’s title. He led Buffalo to a 1511-5 record after 16-year coach Lindy Ruff was fired.