Stamkos has goal, assist as Bolts take series lead

Steven Stamkos set up Valtteri Filppula's go-ahead goal and scored another as the Tampa Bay Lightning pushed the New York Rangers to the brink of playoff elimination with 2-0 victory Sunday night at Madison Square Garden in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals.

Ben Bishop, who gave up 10 goals in the previous two games, had 26 saves in posting his second shutout and getting Tampa Bay within a victory of reaching the Stanley Cup finals for the second time in franchise history. The Lightning won the Cup in 2004.

Tampa Bay killed off four power plays in clinical fashion in the opening 31 minutes of a scoreless game, limiting New York to four shots.

"I think we did what the Rangers did last game, we bent, but we didn't break," said Stamkos, who has seven goals in his last 10 playoff games.

"It was a huge effort by our penalty kill," Lightning coach John Cooper added. "They get that first one, who knows how this game turns."

Game 6 is Tuesday night in Florida.

Blackhawks 5, Ducks 4 - Antoine Vermette scored 5 minutes, 37 seconds of the second overtime late Saturday as host Chicago beat Anaheim to tie the Western Conference finals at two games apiece.

Vermette, who said he was surprised and disappointed when he was left out of the lineup for Chicago's 2-1 loss in Game 3, was stopped on his first try in front. He stayed with the rebound and shot it over Frederik Andersen for his second goal of the playoffs.

Game 5 is Monday night in Anaheim.