Stanley Cup Playoffs Review May 22, 2021

DUCHENE SCORES 2OT WINNER AS PREDATORS CUT SERIES DEFICIT

Brett Pesce tallied with 3:21 remaining in regulation to record Carolina’s third tying goal of the contest, but Matt Duchene scored at 14:54 of the second overtime as the Predators edged the Hurricanes in Game 3 to cut their First Round series deficit to 2-1.

Duchene became the fourth player in franchise history to score the winner in a contest which required multiple overtimes, joining Matt Halischuk (Game 2 of 2011 CSF), Mike Fisher (Game 4 of 2016 R2) and Kevin Fiala (Game 2 of 2018 R2). He recorded the second playoff overtime goal of his NHL career – his first was also a 2OT winner in Game 2 of the 2019 Second Round (w/ CBJ).

Juuse Saros made 52 saves to match the franchise record for most in a playoff contest, a mark set by Dan Ellis in Game 5 of the 2008 Conference Quarterfinals.

Over 12,000 fans were in attendance at Bridgestone Arena for Game 3, which opened with a rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” by Grammy Award-winning musician Keith Urban and also featured an appearance by former Tennessee Titans running back Eddie George.

STASTNY ALSO SCORES OVERTIME WINNER AS JETS HEAD HOME UP 2-0

Paul Stastny scored at 4:06 of overtime and Connor Hellebuyck made 38 saves as Winnipeg, which held both Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl off of the score sheet again, will leave Rogers Place with a 2-0 lead in its First Round series.

Stastny scored the second playoff overtime goal of his NHL career – his first was in Game 1 of the 2014 First Round (w/ COL). He became the second player to score an overtime goal in a postseason contest with the Jets/Thrashers franchise, joining Kyle Connor in Game 4 of the 2019 First Round.

The Jets became the fourth team to hold the Art Ross Trophy winner off of the score sheet in each of his first two games during the ensuing postseason, joining the Maple Leafs in 1950 (Ted Lindsay w/ DET), Islanders in 2004 (Martin St. Louis w/ TBL) and Blue Jackets in 2019 (Nikita Kucherov w/ TBL).

BRUINS, AVALANCHE MOVE WITHIN ONE WIN OF 2021 SECOND ROUND

Boston and Colorado earned victories on Friday to move within one win of reaching the Second Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs:

Tuukka Rask turned aside 19 of the 20 shots he faced as the Bruins earned their third consecutive win to take a 3-1 lead in their First Round series.

Rask recorded the 54th playoff win of his NHL career to pass Gerry Cheevers (53) for sole possession of the most in franchise history. He also moved into a tie with Terry Sawchuk for 17th place in League history.

Boston owns a 3-1 lead in a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Playoffs series for the 23rd time in franchise history. The Bruins hold an all-time series record of 20-2 under that criteria (.909) – their only two losses were during the 2004 Conference Quarterfinals and 2010 Conference Semifinals.

Alex Newhook scored his first career NHL goal and Ryan Graves (1-2—3) had a single-game career high with three points as the Avalanche extended their postseason-opening winning streak to three contests.

The Avalanche/Nordiques franchise owns a 3-0 lead in a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Playoffs series for the fifth time. They hold an all-time series record of 4-0 under that criteria (1.000), including two instances in which the clinching win was earned in Game 4 (1996 SCF & 2001 CQF).

Newhook, who was selected by Colorado with the 16th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft and made his League debut on May 5, became the third player in franchise history to score his first career NHL goal in the playoffs, following Janne Laukkanen (Game 2 of 1995 CQF) and Cale Makar (Game 3 of 2019 R1).

PANTHERS, LIGHTNING CONTEST FIRST OF THREE PIVOTAL GAME 4s

Today’s slate opens at 12:30 p.m. ET when the Panthers and Lightning go head-to-head in the first of three pivotal Game 4s scheduled today.

CANADIENS AIM FOR 10TH STRAIGHT PLAYOFF WIN VERSUS MAPLE LEAFS

Montreal, which owns a 9-0 record in its last nine postseason contests against Toronto dating to Game 1 of the 1978 Semifinals, will look to extend the winning streak to double digits when its First Round series continues tonight at Scotiabank Arena.

The Maple Leafs’ last playoff victory versus the Canadiens was in Game 6 of the 1967 Final, when they clinched their 13th and most-recent Stanley Cup.

Hurricanes’ Staal Fined for Dangerous Trip

Carolina Hurricanes forward Jordan Staal has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for a dangerous trip against Nashville Predators forward Luke Kunin during Game 3 of the teams’ First Round series in Nashville on Friday, May 21, 2021. The incident occurred at 13:56 of the second period. Staal was assessed a minor penalty for tripping. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Capitals’ Mantha Fined for Goaltender Interference

Washington Capitals forward Anthony Mantha has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for goaltender interference against Tuukka Rask of the Boston Bruins during Game 4 of the teams’ First Round series in Boston on Friday, May 21, 2021. The incident occurred at 13:29 of the third period. Mantha was assessed a minor penalty for goaltender interference. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Avalanche’s Kadri Suspended Eight Games for Illegal Check to the Head

Colorado Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri has been suspended for eight games for an illegal check to the head of St. Louis Blues defenseman Justin Faulk during Game 2 of the teams’ First Round series in Colorado on Wednesday, May 19, 2021. If the term of the suspension is not fully served during the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the remaining games will be served at the beginning of the 2021-22 regular season. The incident occurred at 6:26 of the third period. Kadri was assessed a match penalty for illegal check to the head.

For a full explanation of the decision, watch video.