Blues’ Rally Puts Stars on Thin Ice

One more victory and the St. Louis Blues are in the conference finals for the first time in 15 years. One more loss and the Dallas Stars’ drive for a third consecutive Stanley Cup final is history.

Cory Stillman scored at 9:26 of the second overtime as the Blues overcame a two-goal deficit to win, 3-2, Tuesday night in the Western Conference semifinal series at St. Louis.

The Blues lead the best-of-seven series, three games to none. Game 4 is Thursday night at St. Louis.

“They have the hammer and we’re the nail,” Dallas Coach Ken Hitchcock said. “If we could have won this game, psychologically it could have worked wonders for us.”

The last time St. Louis advanced past the second round was 1986, when it lost in seven games to Calgary in the conference finals.

St. Louis outshot the Stars, 6-1, in the second overtime. It was the first of 19 overtime games in this season’s playoffs to require a second extra period.

Dallas won the Stanley Cup two seasons ago and lost in the finals to New Jersey last season.

Stillman, a late-season pickup from Calgary, scored his third goal of the postseason. Scott Mellanby left a drop pass for Stillman, who put a wrist shot between Ed Belfour’s pads.

“I couldn’t ask for it to be in a better place to shoot it,” Stillman said. “There’s probably two that you’ll remember when you’re done and one’s the first goal I ever scored and definitely tonight.”

The Stars lost despite inspired efforts from Mike Modano, who played despite a sprained left ankle, and Belfour, who made 45 saves. Modano, who missed Game 2, set up both of the Stars’ goals and played more than 35 minutes.

Brett Hull scored his 90th career playoff goal to end a dominant stretch by the St. Louis penalty killers, whose streak ended at 34. Mike Keane also scored for the Stars.

The San Jose Sharks failed to score in 23 power plays against the Blues in the first round and the Stars had been scoreless in 11.

The Blues won despite struggling on the power play. They failed in four attempts in Game 3, going without a shot after the Stars were whistled for too many men on the ice in overtime, and are scoreless in 14 power plays in the series.

New Jersey 3, Toronto 2--Brian Rafalski’s centering pass deflected in off the skate of defenseman Cory Cross seven minutes into the extra session, lifting the Devils to an overtime victory at Toronto.

Rafalski also set up Scott Gomez’s tying goal in the third period and Bobby Holik also scored for the Devils, who lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series, two games to one.

Game 4 is Thursday at Toronto.

“I was trying to make a pass to [Randy McKay],” Rafalski said. “He was trying to go back door. That’s his kitchen down there. But the defenseman turned, it went off his skate, and I’ll take it.

“Biggest goal of my career so far. To get an overtime winner in the playoffs, that’s what you always dream about. Maybe 15-20 years later, it’ll be top shelf, greatest shot ever.”

The Maple Leafs will never see it that way.

“It was just tough luck,” said goalie Curtis Joseph, who kept the Maple Leafs in the game by stopping 42 shots. “It’s nobody’s fault.”

Holik won a faceoff inside the Maple Leafs blue line and got the puck to Rafalski, who skated up the right side of the boards. Rafalski attempted to send a pass through the middle, but the puck hit Cross’ skate and slid between Joseph’s legs.

The Maple Leafs have had their share of bad breaks lately.

On Saturday, Toronto overcame a three-goal, third-period deficit before losing, 6-5, in overtime on another unfortunate bounce when Sergei Brylin blocked Aki Berg’s point shot that led directly to McKay’s game-winner.

“It’s another test,” said Steve Thomas, who has four goals in the last three games. “Thursday is a must game for us.”