NEW YORK — Shea Weber and Craig Smith scored in the second period to give the Nashville Predators a 3-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks in the second game of their Stanley Cup Western Conference quarterfinal series Sunday night in front of a sellout crowd of 17,174 at the Honda Center.
Mattias Ekholm added a goal, Filip Forsberg and Roman Josi each contributed two assists and goalie Pekka Rinne stopped 27 shots for the Predators, who take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. The third and fourth games will take place at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena Tuesday night and night, respectively.
Andrew Cogliano and Nate Thompson scored for the Ducks, who killed four of five penalties while receiving 24 saves from goalie John Gibson.
Hickey lifts Isles
Thomas Hickey scored with 7:29 left in overtime as the New York Islanders beat the Florida Panthers 4-3 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series at Barclays Center.
The Islanders lead the best-of-seven series two games to one. Game 4 is scheduled for Wednesday night at Barclays Center.
Rookie Ryan Pulock scored his first career playoff goal for the Islanders, who also received goals from Shane Prince and Frans Nielsen. Goalie Thomas Greiss recorded 36 saves.
Reilly Smith scored the Panthers’ first goal and also finished with two assists. He has eight points in the three games.
Aleksander Barkov and Nick Bjugstad also scored for the Panthers. Goalie Roberto Luongo made 35 saves.
Mrazek shuts out Lightning
Petr Mrazek made 16 saves for his third career playoff shutout in the Detroit Red Wings 2-0 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference First Round series at Joe Louis Arena.
The Lightning lead the best-of-seven series two games to one. Game 4 is Tuesday night at Joe Louis Arena.
Mrazek replaced Jimmy Howard, who started the first two games of the series.
Andreas Athanasiou and Henrik Zetterberg scored for Detroit.
Ben Bishop made 28 saves for Tampa Bay.
The Red Wings scored both goals in the second period.
Blues beat Blackhawks
Jaden Schwartz scored at 13:32 of the third period with Patrick Kane in the penalty box for high-sticking, and the St. Louis Blues beat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 Sunday for a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series.
Patrik Berglund also scored in the third as St. Louis rallied for the win after a difficult 3-2 loss in Game 2 that included two key coach’s challenges that went against the Blues. Brian Elliott made 44 saves, keeping St. Louis in the game during Chicago’s strong second period.
Kane, the NHL’s leading scorer this season and one of the favorites for league MVP, got four minutes for a high stick on defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, and St. Louis made the most of the chance to go in front.
Vladimir Tarasenko passed down low to David Backes, who sent it right to Schwartz in the slot. He beat Crawford low on the glove side for his third career playoff goal and a 3-2 lead with 6:38 left.
Game 4 is Tuesday night in Chicago.
Colton Parayko also scored for St. Louis. Brent Seabrook and Artem Anisimov scored for Chicago. — Agencies
