Malkin, hours after being announced as a finalist for the NHL MVP award, scored two power-play goals and added an assist to lift Pittsburgh to a 5-3 victory last night that stretched the Penguins' lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal series to three games to none.

The Penguins are 7-0 in the postseason, still rolling after a four-game sweep of Ottawa in the first round.

They eked out wins at home in the opening two games against the Rangers, rallying from a 3-0 deficit to win Game 1 and prevailing 2-0 on Sunday on the strength of Marc-Andre Fleury's shutout.

Pittsburgh, which lost all four road meetings with the Rangers this season, can advance to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2001 as early as Thursday.

New York, which dominated the shots with a 39-17 edge, had the stirring rally in this one, erasing a two-goal deficit in the second period. But Malkin restored the Penguins' lead before the frame was finished, then won a key face-off in the Rangers' end that helped set up Ryan Malone's goal.

Stars 2, Sharks 1

DALLAS - Thanks to an unlikely goal from Mattias Norstrom, Dallas is one victory shy of the Western Conference finals.

Norstrom scored from the top of the left circle 4:37 into overtime to give the Stars a victory over San Jose and a commanding three-games to-one lead in the best-of-seven series.

Sharks goalie Evgeni Nabokov had already made several impressive saves in the overtime, denying Loui Ericksson twice in the first couple of minutes. The second shot by Ericksson came as he tried to knock in the rebound of Brad Richards' shot that the goalie kicked away.

But Nabokov had too many bodies around him and couldn't see the shot by Norstrom, who scored his second goal in 49 playoff games. He took a pass from Mike Ribeiro and slapped it through the traffic and into the net.

Dallas can wrap up the series Wednesday night at home.

Avs' Smith is out. Center Peter Forsberg and defenseman Scott Hannan were back in Colorado's lineup for Game 3 against the Detroit Red Wings last night, but forward Ryan Smyth was out with a foot injury.