Sharks take control against Kings

NEW YORK — The power play found redemption as the San Jose Sharks held on to beat the Los Angeles Kings 3-2 Wednesday. The Sharks, who went 3-for-4 on the power play one game after going 0-for-5, lead the best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series 3-1. The victory moves San Jose within one win of advancing to the second-round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Game 5 is Friday at Staples Center in Los Angeles. San Jose’s 3-0 third-period lead looked safe when Patrick Marleau scored the team’s third power-play goal of the game 1:40 into the session, and only five seconds into defenseman Jamie McBain’s high stick of rookie Joonas Donskoi. But the Kings scored twice of just under four minutes to make it a one-goal game. First Trevor Lewis touched a Luke Schenn drive from the blue line through Martin Jones, a goal that stood following a coach’s challenge for goaltender inference at 2:49. Then Schenn scored his second career playoff goal with another blast from the point, this one through a maze of bodies lined up in front of Jones at 6:44 also at even strength. San Jose struck twice in the second period on the strength of its power play. Stars beat Wild Jason Spezza scored a goal and assisted on another in the second period as the Dallas Stars rallied, twice, beating the Minnesota Wild 3-2 Wednesday and taking a commanding lead in their first round playoff series. With the Stars trailing 2-1 midway through the game, Spezza assisted on a Patrick Eaves power-play goal, then scored one of his own, giving Dallas a 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series. Ales Hemsky also scored, and Antti Niemi had 28 saves in his first playoff start for the Stars, who were the top seed in the West. They can close out the series in Game 5 Friday in Dallas. Flyers down Capitals Michal Neuvirth stopped 31 shots in his first start of the playoff series, helping the Philadelphia Flyers stave off a sweep with a 2-1 win over the Washington Capitals. The Capitals still lead the series 3-1 headed into Game 5 Friday night in Washington. Shayne Gostisbehere and Andrew MacDonald each scored for the Flyers. Neuvirth was sensational in the third after T.J. Oshie scored early in the period to make it 2-1. The Capitals still have never swept a best-of-seven playoff series. The game was marred by a scary hit that saw Flyers center Scott Laughton leave on a stretcher. The Flyers said he was taken to Jefferson Hospital for precautionary reasons. Panthers edge Islanders Alex Petrovic scored the tiebreaking goal midway through the third period and the Florida Panthers beat the New York Islanders to even their first-round playoff series at two games apiece. Teddy Purcell also scored for Florida, and Jaromir Jagr had an assist for his 200th career playoff point. Roberto Luongo stopped 26 shots. John Tavares had his third goal of the series for New York, and Thomas Greiss finished with 27 saves. The Panthers got their first playoff road win since April 17, 2012, against New Jersey in Game 3 of the first round. Game 5 of the best-of-seven series is Friday night in Sunrise, Florida.