Canadiens rally to tie series with Penguins

Maxim Lapierre and Brian Gionta scored 1:33 apart early in the third period to give the Montreal Canadiens a 3-2 win over the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins last night, tying the Eastern Conference semifinal series at 2-2.

Montreal trailed 2-1 after two periods while being outshot 25-9. "We knew in that second intermission that we probably had played our worst two periods of the playoffs," Gionta said. "So to be down one goal, we knew we had a chance to steal a game.''

Maxime Talbot and Chris Kunitz scored 1:51 apart early in the first period to put Pittsburgh ahead 2-1. Lapierre drew the Canadiens even at 2 with a wraparound goal 2:07 into the third.

The fans had even more to cheer about at 3:40 when Gionta got credit for his fifth goal after his centering pass from the right side went in off Penguins defenseman Kris Letang's skate.

Franzen nets 4 for Wings Johan Franzen had four goals and two assists as the Red Wings defeated the San Jose Sharks, 7-1, last night in Detroit. San Jose leads the Western Conference semifinal series 3-1.

Franzen set a Detroit playoff record with six points and tied a team mark with his four goals. Steve Yzerman and Norm Ullman shared the previous points record with five.

"He came to play," Sharks coach Todd McLellan said. "He's a huge man and that's why they call him Mule. That's not something we're not aware of. We have players that can do that, too, but they just have to bring it."

Franzen scored three times in a 3:26 span of the first period and had a fourth goal in the third. He originally was credited with the opening goal in the first period that wound up being awarded to Todd Bertuzzi.

- AP