Stanley Cup Playoffs 2012: Wednesday Night's 3 Stars

Staying alive was a common theme for three teams on Wednesday night.

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Vancouver Canucks were both victorious in their efforts to make historic comebacks down 0-3. 

Meanwhile, the Ottawa Senators evened up their series with the New York Rangers, avoiding going down 1-3 with the series going back to the Big Apple. 

The playoffs are all about desperation and three teams showed it. Here are the three stars of the night, but first let's recognize some honorable players: 

Marc-Andre Fleury

Let's give the rattled Pittsburgh goalie some credit. After a shaky first period, he stepped up and shut down the Flyers for the second and third period to gain some confidence. It'll be interesting to see if he carries the momentum to the next game.

Matt Niskanen

The highly underrated defenseman had a stalwart performance on Wednesday night. He scored a goal and fired a puck to the net which deflected off Sidney Crosby's jersey and went into the net to get an assist. He was also a plus-three on the game and extremely potent on the power play.

Sergei Gonchar

Gonchar's late second-period goal tied up the game for the Senators. Then, in overtime, he assisted on Kyle Turris' goal which lifted the Sens to victory.

Evgeni Malkin

Geno scored two goals and had an assist in the Penguins victory. His two goals were the first pair of the playoffs for Malkin, who must revert to his scoring ways if they want to come back. 

3. Kyle Turris

Kyle Turris entered the New York Rangers zone, received the puck, and let it fly.

His accurate shot beat Henrik Lundqvist early in the overtime period as the Ottawa Senators won a must-win game.

They now return to New York for Game 5 with the series tied at two apiece. Turris' huge goal gives the Sens some momentum going on the road and there's no doubt that this team can pull off a major upset in the first round. 

2. Jordan Staal

Bang. Bang. Bang.

Jordan Staal's hat trick figured for just 30 percent of the Penguins goals on Wednesday night, but his scoring parade lifted the Pens past the Flyers. 

The third-line center looked unstoppable in Game 4.

His first goal came in front of the net as he got to a loose rebound and pounded it home. His second goal came on a one-timer from the slot. He completed the hat trick on a wicked wrist shot from the right side which beat Sergei Bobrovsky "like a rented mule," as Pens radio play-by-play would famously say.

Staal's goals should instill some belief in a Penguins team that was all but dead coming into Wednesday night's game.

They must continue to play with that same desperation if they're going to make history. 

1. Cory Schneider

For the second consecutive game, the Vancouver Canucks got an amazing goaltending performance from Cory Schneider. 

Except this time, they got some goal support.

Schneider turned away 43 shots in the Canucks' 3-1 victory and bounced back nicely after allowing the first goal of the game.

He also stopped 18 shots in a second-period onslaught by the Los Angeles Kings, who had an uncharacteristic night in terms of offensive explosiveness. Kings fans aren't used to seeing their team taking that many shots in a game.

For once they did, but they were denied any success by Schneider.