NHL 3078

After dropping the first three games of the series, the Los Angeles Kings are now one win away from pulling off an historic playoff comeback.

Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams each had a pair of goals as the Kings beat the San Jose Sharks 4-1 to tie their series up at 3-3 and force a seventh and deciding game Wednesday in San Jose.

The Kings are looking to become only the fourth team in NHL history to win a best of seven playoff series after being down 3-0. The winner of the series will face Anaheim in the next round.

Zach Parise scored twice, including the game winner as part of a four-point night for Minnesota in a 5-2 win over the Avalanche to even its series with Colorado 3-3. The home team has won every game of this series, which moves to Denver for the deciding game Wednesday night. The series winner will play the defending Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference semi-finals.

Evgeni Malkin had a hat trick for Pittsburgh as the Penguins knocked out Columbus 4-3 to take their first-round series in six games. The Penguins managed to hold on after jumping to a 4-0 lead after 40 minutes and then allowing three unanswered goals in the third. Pittsburgh will meet the winner of the New York-Philadelphia series in Round 2. The Rangers lead 3-2 with game six set for tonight in Philly (5:30pm, TSN).