Gaudreau scores on penalty shot as Flames down Stars to even series

After bungling a breakaway in a previous game, Johnny Gaudreau made no mistake on his penalty shot.

Gaudreau converting a third-period penalty shot spurred the Calgary Flames to Monday's 4-1 win over the Dallas Stars to even up their playoff series at two wins apiece.

Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom made 34 saves for the win in another goaltending duel with Dallas counterpart Jake Oettinger, who stopped 50 shots in the loss.

Tyler Seguin scored the Stars' lone goal.

The best-of-seven series returns to Calgary for Wednesday's Game 5 at the Saddledome, where the Flames went 25-9-7 in the regular season.

WATCH l Gaudreau's penalty shot lifts Flames over Stars:

Game 6 is Friday back in Dallas and a Game 7, if necessary, would be Sunday in Calgary.

"It's nice to get that win, but I think the momentum is we're going home and playing in front of our fans," Gaudreau said. "Now it's a three-game series."

Calgary (50-21-11) topped the Pacific Division and ranked sixth in the NHL in the regular season. The No. 15 Stars (46-30-6) entered the post-season as the first wild card in the Western Conference.

The Flames won 1-0 and lost 2-0 at the Saddledome before the Stars doubled Calgary 4-2 in Game 3 at American Airlines Center.

When a best-of-seven series is tied 2-2, the winner of Game 5 holds an all-time series record of 219-58 (. 791), according to NHL statisticians.

The Flames trailed by a goal late in Saturday's Game 3 when a streaking Gaudreau couldn't elevate the puck over Oettinger's pad with just over three minutes remaining in the game.

With more time to plot his moves Monday, the winger stretched Oettinger out with a backhand and scored five-hole at 7:47 of the third period.

"Since Game 1, I felt I'd been playing well, playing hard against this team. The results weren't there," Gaudreau said. "Last game had a breakaway with two minutes left. Wanted that one back. Tonight, a different story. Found the net."