NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS : Blues Take Some Glint Off of North Stars, 5-2

Adam Oates got the winning goal on a rebound shot at 7:55 of the third period and the St. Louis Blues ended a lengthy power-play drought with a fluke goal for a 5-2 victory over the Minnesota North Stars Saturday night that tied the Norris Division finals at one game apiece.

After Brett Hull shot from the slot, Oates got the rebound at the left side of the net and slid it past goaltender Jon Casey for his fifth goal of the playoffs, breaking a 2-2 tie.

Rod Brind’Amour was credited with a power-play goal--the Blues’ first in 25 opportunities--when North Star center Marc Bureau accidentally kicked the puck into the net at 6:35 of the second period to tie the score at 2-2.

Garth Butcher also scored for the Blues, who will try to regain the home-ice advantage from the underdog North Stars when the series shifts to Minneapolis for Game 3 Monday night. The North Stars are trying to pull off their second consecutive playoff upset after beating the Chicago Blackhawks, the regular-season point champions, in six games.

The Blues entered the game with a league-low three for 44 on the power play and had only one shot on their first three chances with a man advantage. But they succeeded on the fourth with Bureau’s help and wound up one for one for six.

The Blues also held the North Stars without a goal on five power-play opportunities.