Canucks Beat Stars in Overtime

Vancouver Canucks center Jan Bulis (38) of the Czech Republic celebrates his goal as Dallas Stars defenseman Philippe Boucher (43) looks on during the third period of Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference Quarterfinals hockey game in Dallas Sunday, April 15, 2007. (AP Photo/Tim Sharp) (Tim Sharp - AP)

"To be able to get it in overtime as a game-winner is definitely a nice feeling," he said. "I just let it go and it wound up in the net. That's all that matters."

Luongo made 29 saves, with some spectacular ones like a pair from his back early on.

"We relied heavily on him," Bulis said. "He proved to be the key guy again. In the first and second we were outplayed. He made some great saves to keep us in the game, or else it could have easily been 4-0."

Vancouver hung in and persevered. Dallas felt like it let control of the game get away. The third period was a turning point in more ways than the score: The Canucks also outshot Dallas 15-4.

"You've got to play complete games, that's the key," said Stu Barnes, who scored Dallas' only goal. "We did that in Game 2. We had a great game, start to finish. Tonight we tailed off a little bit as it got later on and they took advantage of it."

In the first period, things went from tactical to testy for the first time this series. There was a big pileup with lots of pushing and shoving, sticks and gloves dropped and helmets knocked off. Two players from each side wound up in the penalty box following that skirmish.

However, it didn't last. Both teams stuck to their formulas, making for tight but crisp action.

The Stars went ahead 1-0 toward the end of the second period when Barnes redirected a long shot by Stephane Robidas while on the power play. It was Dallas' seventh goal of the series, all by different players. It also ended a string of 15 straight scoreless chances with the man advantage.

The Canucks tied it early in the third period. Jannik Hansen whacked a shot off Turco's left shoulder, the rebound going right to Bulis. He popped it past Turco for Vancouver's first goal in 105:18, since the end of Game 1. From his knees, Turco turned to see the puck in the net, threw his head back, then dropped face-first to the ice in disgust.

Notes:@ For the first time this series, the team that scored first lost. ... Mike Modano and Jere Lehtinen, Dallas' top two goal-scorers in the regular season, are not among the team's goal-scorers this postseason. ... The game started on time, a notable feat considering the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs played an NBA game in the afternoon. The basketball-to-hockey changeover took about 1 1/2 hours.