Avalanche 4, Stars 0– Round Robin Game.
In a significant affair, the Penguins built a 3-1 lead early in the 2nd period. The Canadiens surged back to win Game 3, and did so convincingly.
The Oilers and Blackhawks raise that “Yeah, wow” to … I do not know, a “Super wowzers?” Wednesday featured some lower seeds spectacular favorites, and while the Penguins bring even more clout than the Oilers, Edmonton still lost in a more incredible way. In another game of swings, Connor McDavid provided the Oilers a 3-2 lead in the dying seconds of the 2nd period. The Oilers secured that lead for a good part of the 3rd, up until everything fell apart with 2 late Blackhawks goals. Easily, Edmonton is on the edge of elimination. Hockey can be quite wild, gang.
Lightning 3, Bruins 2– Round Robin Game.
Coyotes 4, Predators 1 (ARI leads series 2-1).
Canadiens 4, Penguins 3 (MTL leads series 2-1).
Following a buzzer-beater win against the defending champ Blues, the Avalanche didnt leave their second round-robin game to chance. Cale Makar started the scoring with a power-play goal 3:19 into the game, and the Avalanche never actually recalled. Far, the Avalanche appearance as frightening and quick as hockey diehards were hoping.
Blackhawks 4, Oilers 3 (EDM leads series 2-1).
Panthers 3, Islanders 2 (NYI leads series 2-1).
There were some major NHL Game 3 upsets, and even the method the upsets happened must have been extra-upsetting for the favorites.
It wasnt always pretty, but the Panthers live to combat another day.
Breaking the underdog pattern, powerful round-robin groups the Avalanche and Lightning won. (Then again, the Presidents Trophy winners wont be the Easts front runner, so possibly that underdog trend still tracks …).
After losing their first two video games of the Eastern Conference Round Robin, the Presidents Trophy-winning Bruins wont have the ability to secure the top seed in their conference. Hard break for the only NHL group to reach 100 standings points, but thats the nature of the beast as COVID-19 disrupts both life and sports. The Lightning, meanwhile, won their first two of 3 round-robin video games, so they have a strong opportunity to take the top seed.
For the first time in more than four years, the Panthers won a playoff video game. Of course, it would help if Jonathan Huberdeau can play in Game 4 after being shaken up by a crash with a Panthers colleague.
Despite carrying much of the play– specifically when the “JOFA” line of Ryan Johansen, Filip Forsberg, and Viktor Arvidsson were on– the Predators might only beat Darcy Kuemper as soon as. Kuemper bounced back from a rough Game 2 to hold down the fort for Arizona. Taylor Hall ended up scoring the insurance coverage goal and added an assist to provide the Coyotes an opportunity to advance in Game 4.
NHL Scores.
[NBC 2020 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFF HUB]
Western Conference Round Robin Standings.
Colorado Avalanche (2-0-0, 4 points) Vegas Golden Knights (1-0-0, 2 points) St. Louis Blues (0-1-0, 0 points) Dallas Stars (0-2-0, 0 points).
Tampa Bay Lightning (2-0-0, 4 points) Philadelphia Flyers (1-0-0, 2 points) Washington Capitals (0-0-1, 1 point) Boston Bruins (0-2-0, 0 points).
NHL Round Robin Standings.
NHLs Three Stars from Wednesday.
Eastern Conference Round Robin Standings.
1. Darcy Kuemper, Arizona Coyotes.
As Wednesday went along, NHL Game 3 upsets ended up being a pattern, and the outcomes became increasingly stunning. When you compare it to the other spectacular NHL Game 3 upsets of the day, a greater seed Predators team falling to the Coyotes feels less jarring.
After a tough Game 2, Kuemper stopped 39 out of 40 shots to snare Game 3 from the Predators. Kuempers best work came early, as the Coyotes took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission in spite of Nashville handling a 19-9 SOG advantage.
Still, this was the standout effort.
Kuemper helped the Coyotes author a familiar variation of this one, an upset even more normal than the Blackhawks and Canadiens more or less matching the Oilers and Penguins respectively. When it comes to the Coyotes beating the Predators, much of the outcome pertained to a goalie standing on his head.
2. Shea Weber, Montreal Canadiens.
Along with scoring one goal and 2 assists for three points, Weber was stout defensively. That included 2 goals for and zero versus at even-strength.
3. Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers.
Hockey Twitter may want to “free Connor McDavid,” however some sympathy ought to be saved for Draisaitl, too.
Toews will feel great taking the win and being a victory away from the official 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Yet, Leon Draisaitl appeared like the 2020 Art Ross winner out there. Draisaitl factored into all three Oilers goals (two goals, one assist) and brought the sort of underlying statistics he doesnt always generate.
If you seem like Jonathan Toews should get the nod, thats understandable. Toews scored two objectives, and played a big role in the Blackhawks win. (So did a gush of deflections, however still, Toews was fantastic.).
2020 Stanley Cup Qualifiers– leading highlights from Monday.
Game 3: Canucks vs. Wild, 2:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN (Series tied 1-1).
Cale Makar kicked off the scoring with a power-play goal 3:19 into the video game, and the Avalanche never ever actually looked back. The Canadiens surged back to win Game 3, and did so convincingly. In another video game of swings, Connor McDavid provided the Oilers a 3-2 lead in the passing away seconds of the second period.
Jeff Petry currently has two postseason game-winning goals for the Canadiens. Via NHL PR, hes the sixth Canadiens defenseman to generate a minimum of two in a single playoff run.
Avalanche goalie Pavel Francouz brought his sneaky-strong regular season into the Round Robin. By pitching a 27-save shutout, Francouz is the very first Avalanche goalie in franchise history to earn a nothing in their playoff debut. Take that, Peter Budaj.
–.
The definitive objective from Predators– Coyotes could do the technique if you require a single highlight. Derek Stepan made a fantastic pass, then Conor Garland finished the highlight-reel-game-winner by stupefying the Predators:.
Honestly? Its most likely smart to pay those Oilers– Blackhawks highlights, wholesale:.
Taylor Hall ended up scoring the insurance coverage objective and included an assist to provide the Coyotes a chance to advance in Game 4.
James OBrien is an author for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @cyclelikesedins.
What an incredible, unforeseen breakout season from Garland …
Round-robin: Golden Knights vs. Blues, 6:45 p.m. ET, NBCSN.
Of course, it would assist if Jonathan Huberdeau can play in Game 4 after being shaken up by a crash with a Panthers colleague.
Factoids.
Thursday NHL schedule:.
By getting an assist in Game 3, Sidney Crosby broke a tie with Doug Gilmour and Joe Sakic for 8th all-time in scoring with his 190th playoff point. Informing him that after Game 3 would most likely primarily make you a frown, however.
Round-robin: Capitals vs. Flyers, 4 p.m. ET, NBCSN.
Video game 3: Maple Leafs vs. Blue Jackets, 8 p.m. ET, NBCSN ( Series connected 1-1).
Video game 4: Jets vs. flames, 10:30 p.m. ET, CNBC ( CGY leads 2-1).
