Minnesota Wild defeat Dallas Stars, 5-3, to cut series deficit to 2-1

Jason Pominville had two goals and an assist and the Minnesota Wild roared back from an early two-goal deficit to beat Dallas, 5-3, on Monday night in St. Paul, Minn., and slice the Stars’ lead in the Western Conference quarterfinals to 2-1.

Chris Porter put the Wild on the board in the final minute of the first period, their first even-strength goal of the series. Erik Haula added a goal and an assist, Mikko Koivu scored on a power play in the third period and the Wild stopped a seven-game losing streak that started on March 31.

Patrick Sharp scored 26 seconds into the game and again less than 4 minutes later for the Stars, but the Wild controlled the action after that and finished with a 25-17 shots-on-goal advantage.

Game 4 is in Minnesota on Wednesday night, and Game 5 will be back in Dallas on Friday night.

The Stars went nearly 50 minutes without scoring until the puck took a pinball-like path to the net off Colton Sceviour’s chest. Sceviour didn’t appear to see the puck but was credited with the goal with 6:15 remaining to cut the lead to 4-3.

Pominville’s empty-netter all but ended it.

Washington 6, at Philadelphia 1: Alex Ovechkin scored twice, Braden Holtby had 31 saves and the Capitals moved one game closer to a sweep in their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series with a win over the Flyers.

The Capitals lead a series 3-0 for the first time in franchise history. Game 4 is Wednesday night in Philadelphia.

Ovechkin snapped a tie game with his 38th postseason goal and Holtby made the lead stand with his third straight sensational effort in the series. The Capitals scored five power-play goals, including four in the third period.

The Flyers lost in their first home game since founder Ed Snider’s death last week. Michael Raffl scored 57 seconds into the game and sent a crowd already rocking after an emotional pregame tribute into a frenzy.