Stanley Cup Playoffs Recap – April 24, 2025 – BENOIT SCORES OVERTIME WINNER AS MAPLE LEAFS MOUNT 3-0 LEAD

After assisting on Toronto’s overtime winner in Game 2, Simon Benoit scored just 1:19 into the extra frame in Game 3 to help the Maple Leafs mount a 3-0 lead against the Senators in the ‘Battle of Ontario.’ Toronto took a 3-0 lead in a best-of-seven series for just the second time in the NHL’s expansion era (since 1967-68), following the 2001 Conference Quarterfinals – also against Ottawa.

• Benoit became the seventh defenseman in Stanley Cup Playoffs history to factor on an overtime goal in consecutive games. The others: Ivan Provorov (Game 5-6 of 2020 R2), Scott Niedermayer (Game 4-5 of 2007 CSF), Rob Blake (Game 4-5 of 2001 CF), Chris Chelios (Game 3-4 of 1995 CSF), Rick Smith (Game 2-3 of 1978 QF) and Serge Savard (Game 1-2 of 1969 SF).
• The NHL announced that it has fined the Ottawa Senators $25,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct during warm-ups prior to Game 3 of their First Round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday, April 24. The fine money goes to the NHL Foundation.
• Additionally, the NHL has fined Ottawa’s Nick Cousins $2,083.33, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for unsportsmanlike conduct during Thursday’s warm-ups. The fine money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

BUCHNEVICH NETS HAT TRICK, FOWLER HAS FIVE POINTS AS BLUES SCORE SEVEN

Pavel Buchnevich (3-1—4) scored twice in the opening 3:11 en route to his first career playoff hat trick while Cam Fowler (1-4—5) established a franchise record for points in a postseason game by a defenseman to help the Blues earn their first win of the opening round against the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Jets. St. Louis scored seven goals in a playoff game for the fifth time in franchise history and first since Game 1 of the 1998 Conference Quarterfinals.

• Fowler (1-6—7 in 3 GP), who co-leads all skaters in scoring in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, became the ninth defenseman in NHL history to post at least seven points through their first three games of a postseason. He joined Al MacInnis (2-6—8 w/ STL in 1999), Chris Chelios (1-7—8 w/ CHI in 1991), Cale Makar (2-5—7 w/ COL in 2022), John Carlson (1-6—7 w/ WSH in 2018), Sandis Ozolinsh (0-7—7 w/ COL in 1998), Brian Leetch (2-5—7 w/ NYR in 1994), Paul Coffey (2-5—7 w/ EDM in 1989) and Gary Suter (1-6—7 w/ CGY in 1988).
• Buchnevich recorded the seventh-fastest two goals from the start of a playoff game in NHL history (3:11) and the fastest since Petr Nedved in Game 1 of the 1996 Conference Quarterfinals (3:04). His third-period goal to complete the hat trick added $3,000 to the Hockey Fights Cancer Fund of the V Foundation thanks to AstraZeneca. To drive fundraising efforts during the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the NHL and NHLPA are hosting a Hockey Fights Cancer Mystery Puck raffle in partnership with the V Foundation. This mystery puck raffle will give all fans the chance to win a puck signed by their favorite NHL Players. In order to be entered in to the raffle, fans must make at least a $50 donation to the V Foundation.

WILD CARD WILD TAKE 2-1 SERIES LEAD
Kirill Kaprizov (2-0—2) and Matt Boldy (1-1—2) skated to their third straight multi-point performance, while Zeev Buium (0-1—1) recorded his first NHL point to help Minnesota take a 2-1 series lead as a Wild Card team facing the Golden Knights, who entered as the Pacific Division leaders. Entering the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Wild were one of four franchises in NHL history to have claimed all of their series wins as the lower-seeded team (4 of 4); the others include the Blue Jackets (2 of 2), New York Americans (1 of 1) and Kraken (1 of 1).

• Kaprizov and Boldy became the second and third players in Wild history to record multiple points in three straight playoff games, joining Marian Gaborik (3 GP in 2003). Boldy’s run includes tallies in each of those contests, which tied Zach Parise (3 GP in 2018) for the second-longest goal streak to begin a postseason in Wild history – Mikko Koivu set the record in 2008 (4 GP).
• Kaprizov scored with two seconds remaining in the second frame, which marked the second time in franchise history a player scored in the final five seconds of a playoff period (also Brian Rolston: 19:57 of P3 in Game 5 of 2008 CQF). With that tally, he became the first player to record consecutive multi-goal games in the postseason since 2023, when Leon Draisaitl (Game 1-2 of R2), Mikko Rantanen (Game 3-4 of R1) and Chris Kreider (Game 1-2 of R1) all did so.
• Buium, who became the first player in Wild history to make their NHL debut in the playoffs after being drafted 12th overall in 2024, also became the second player in franchise history to record his first NHL point in the postseason, joining Calen Addison (Game 5 of 2021 R1). Buium (19 years, 138 days) became the second-youngest player in Wild history to record their first playoff point, behind Pierre-Marc Bouchard (19 years, 19 days in Game 4 of 2003 CF). Buium spent the season playing for the Univ. of Denver where he co-led all defensemen in the NCAA with 13-35—48 (41 GP).

SCHMIDT SHINES AGAIN AS PANTHERS BLANK LIGHTNING IN GAME 2

Nate Schmidt scored his third goal in two games – including his second straight winning tally – and Sergei Bobrovsky turned aside all 19 shots he faced as the Panthers opened a 2-0 series lead in the ‘Battle of Florida.’ The Panthers became the fourth reigning champions in the past decade to win each of their first two road games to start the ensuing postseason (also PIT: 4 GP in 2018, VGK: 2 GP in 2024 & TBL: 2 GP in 2021).

CANADIENS, DEVILS, OILERS SEEK TO CUT SERIES DEFICITS AT HOME FRIDAY
The Canadiens, Devils and Oilers head home for the first time in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs and will each look to cut their First Round series deficit in half.

• The Canadiens will play playoff hockey in front of a sold-out Bell Centre for the first time since 2017. Montreal owns an all-time record of 12-12 in Game 3 when trailing 2-0 in a best-of-seven and have rallied to win five of those series – the most recent instance was during the 2004 Conference Quarterfinals against the Bruins, which saw the Canadiens win in Game 7.
• Jesper Bratt and the Devils head home in search of their first win of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, with New Jersey holding a 7-3 all-time record in Game 3 when trailing 2-0 in a best-of-seven. Bratt, who had an assist during his team’s last Game 3 in this scenario (2023 R2), has found the score sheet in each of his team’s first two contests and can become the franchise’s first player to begin a postseason with a point in three consecutive games since Paul Martin (4 GP) and Zach Parise (3 GP) in 2009.
• Leon Draisaitl and the Oilers, who hold a 5-6 all-time record in Game 3 when trailing 2-0 in a best-of-seven, return home looking for their first win of the series in front of fans at Rogers Place – they went 8-4 at home during their run to the 2024 Stanley Cup Final. Draisaitl has found the back of the net in each of his team’s first two contests and will look to extend his playoff point streak against the Kings to 17 games dating back to Game 5 of the 2022 First Round (16-13—29 in 16 GP).