ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Jason Spezza scored his fourth goal of the series and added three assists, and goalie Kari Lehtonen and the Dallas Stars needed every last one of them to hold off the Minnesota Wild 5-4 on Sunday to wrap up the first-round series in six games.
Jared Spurgeon scored two of Minnesota's four third-period goals and the Wild came within a fraction of an inch of tying it with 34 seconds remaining when Nino Niederreiter whacked at a loose puck in the crease. Freeze-frame replays showed it in the net, but not quite fully across the goal line as it connected with Lehtonen's right pad, an oh-so-close call that was upheld by review.
The Stars moved on to face the winner of the Chicago-St. Louis series, which is tied at 3-3. The Blues host the Blackhawks in their decisive Game 7 on Monday night (see full recap).
Tavares' double OT goal eliminates Panthers
NEW YORK - John Tavares tied it in the final minute of regulation and got the winner at 10:41 of the second overtime, leading the New York Islanders past the Florida Panthers 2-1 Sunday night and into the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 1993.
Tavares skated in and fired an initial shot that Roberto Luongo saved, but the New York captain got the rebound, wrapped around the net and stuffed the puck in to end the longest home game in Islanders history.
The Islanders will next face Tampa Bay.
Thomas Greiss finished with 41 saves in the teams' second straight two-overtime game and third in the series to go past regulation. The Islanders won Game 3 here 4-3 in the first extra period, and took Game 5 in Florida 2-1 at 16 minutes of the second OT.
Jonathan Huberdeau scored late in the first period for Florida (see full recap).
