DENVER - The San Jose Sharks took the first step toward shedding their label of postseason underachievers.
Joe Pavelski scored two goals, including the tiebreaking tally midway through the third period, to lift San Jose to a series-clinching win over Colorado in Game 6.
Pavelski and Dan Boyle scored 1:29 apart in the final period, propelling top-seeded San Jose into the next round. Devin Setoguchi and Douglas Murray added empty-net goals in the final minute after the Avalanche pulled goalie Craig Anderson for an extra skater.
Marek Svatos and Brandon Yip had goals for eighth-seeded Colorado.
Evgeni Nabokov was steady in net all night, but not very busy as he stopped just 16 Avalanche shots. Anderson finished with 29 saves.
PENGUINS 4, SENATORS 3
OTTAWA - Pascal Dupuis scored 9:56 into overtime for the Pittsburgh Penguins, who erased a three-goal deficit and eliminated the Ottawa Senators from the playoffs with a victory in Game 6.
The Senators led 3-0 in the second period and appeared to go up 4-1 in the frame, but lost a goal to video replay when it was determined the puck crossed the line after the net was knocked off its moorings.
Matt Cooke scored his second of the game with 7:36 left in regulation to tie it at 3. Bill Guerin had a goal earlier in the third.
Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 28 shots as the Penguins won for the eighth time in nine playoff series after they were eliminated by Ottawa in five games in the first round in 2007.
Blackhawks 5, Predators 4, OT
CHICAGO - Patrick Kane's short-handed goal tied the game with 13.6 seconds left in regulation and Marian Hossa came out of the penalty box to score 4:07 into overtime as Chicago beat Nashville to take a 3-2 lead in the first-round series.
Chicago can advance in the Western Conference playoffs with a win at Nashville on Monday night.
The Blackhawks blew a 3-1 lead, and the Predators went ahead 4-3 with two third-period goals by Martin Erat.