Pittsburgh Penguins (41-25-16, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (43-27-12, in the Metropolitan Division)
Philadelphia; Saturday, 8 p.m. EDT
LINE: Flyers -119, Penguins -101; over/under is 5.5
NHL PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND: Flyers lead series 3-0
BOTTOM LINE: The Philadelphia Flyers host the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the NHL Playoffs with a 3-0 lead in the series. The teams meet Wednesday for the eighth time this season. The Flyers won the last matchup 5-2.
Philadelphia has a 43-27-12 record overall and a 15-9-5 record in Metropolitan Division play. The Flyers have committed 322 total penalties (3.9 per game) to rank seventh in NHL play.
Pittsburgh has gone 41-25-16 overall with a 13-7-9 record against the Metropolitan Division. The Penguins are 41-8-9 in games they score at least three goals.
TOP PERFORMERS: Travis Konecny has 27 goals and 41 assists for the Flyers. Porter Martone has six goals and six assists over the last 10 games.
Sidney Crosby has 29 goals and 45 assists for the Penguins. Evgeni Malkin has scored six goals and added five assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Flyers: 9-1-0, averaging 3.8 goals, 5.9 assists, 4.8 penalties and 11.2 penalty minutes while giving up 1.8 goals per game.
Penguins: 3-7-0, averaging 3.4 goals, 5.6 assists, 4.7 penalties and 13.2 penalty minutes while giving up 3.5 goals per game.
INJURIES: Flyers: Rodrigo Abols: out (ankle), Nikita Grebenkin: out (upper body), Emil Andrae: day to day (upper-body).
Penguins: Filip Hallander: out (leg), Caleb Jones: out for season (shoulder).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Carolina Hurricanes (53-22-7, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Ottawa Senators (44-27-11, in the Atlantic Division)
Ottawa, Ontario; Saturday, 3 p.m. EDT
LINE: Senators -111, Hurricanes -109; over/under is 5.5
NHL PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND: Hurricanes lead series 3-0
BOTTOM LINE: The Carolina Hurricanes visit the Ottawa Senators in the first round of the NHL Playoffs with a 3-0 lead in the series. The teams meet Thursday for the seventh time this season. The Hurricanes won 2-1 in the last matchup.
Ottawa has a 44-27-11 record overall and a 23-13-6 record on its home ice. The Senators have a 9-12-4 record in games they serve more penalty minutes than their opponents.
Carolina is 25-12-5 on the road and 53-22-7 overall. The Hurricanes are second in the league with 291 total goals (averaging 3.6 per game).
TOP PERFORMERS: Tim Stutzle has scored 34 goals with 48 assists for the Senators. Brady Tkachuk has two goals and five assists over the past 10 games.
Sebastian Aho has 27 goals and 53 assists for the Hurricanes. Logan Stankoven has scored seven goals and added five assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Senators: 5-3-2, averaging three goals, 4.6 assists, 3.6 penalties and 8.6 penalty minutes while giving up 2.2 goals per game.
Hurricanes: 8-1-1, averaging 3.5 goals, 6.1 assists, 3.6 penalties and 7.8 penalty minutes while giving up 2.2 goals per game.
INJURIES: Senators: Jake Sanderson: day to day (undisclosed), Artem Zub: day to day (undisclosed), Nick Jensen: out for season (lower-body).
Hurricanes: None listed.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 23: Anton Forsberg #31 of the Los Angeles Kings watches a shot in front of Artturi Lehkonen #62 of the Colorado Avalanche and Brian Dumoulin #2 during the first period of Game Three of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on April 23, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After taking care of business and earning a 2-0 series lead as the games shifted into Los Angeles, the Colorado Avalanche continued to roll right along as they secured a 4-2 win over the Kings, and a 3-0 series lead with the possibility to complete the sweep on Sunday afternoon.
Let’s take a look at the action from tonight!
First Period
It didn’t take long for Gabriel Landeskog to get the scoring started for the Avs on a really flukey goal. Landeskog shot the puck from the top of the offensive zone, and the puck bounced off the boards, off of Kings goaltender Anton Forsberg’s skate, and into the back of the net. With that score Colorado enjoyed a 1-0 first period lead which would carry into the first intermission.
Second Period
The Kings would tie the game at 1-1 early in the second period with a flukey goal of their own, as a shot deflected off of Trevor Moore, who was tied up with Josh Manson, and went into the back of the Avalanche net.
Los Angeles had hope in this game for about six minutes but then Cale Makar would give Colorado the lead once again, as a seeing-eye shot found its way past Forsberg, beating him cleanly and giving the Avs a 2-1 lead, which is how the second period would end.
Third Period
Early in the third period the Kings had another opportunity to tie the game with a power play but Artturi Lehkonen erased that possibility as he would make it 3-1 Colorado on a shorthanded goal, as he was able to beat Forsberg through the five-hole with Logan O’Connor streaking towards the net.
Los Angeles would get another power play opportunity late in the third period, and they would convert on the opportunity for the third time in the series by pulling the goaltender to go 6-on-4. Adrian Kempe would tip the puck past Scott Wedgewood off a shot from Artemi Panarin.
Still, it wasn’t enough to rattle the Avalanche as Brock Nelson would simply score an empty net goal for Colorado after that, putting them back up by two goals, securing a 4-2 win, and a commanding 3-0 series lead for the Avalanche
Takeaways
That game looked and felt more like Avalanche hockey. Finally, they were able to break through more on offense than they were able to do in the first couple of games despite getting outshot 26-23. I’m sure it’s been said before, but it wasn’t exactly a secret that the Kings wanted to play the defensive, muck-it-up game that they’ve been playing this series. That’s what they’re good at, and how they’re successful, so the first two games ending up the way they did weren’t all that surprising.
Instead, what has pleasantly surprised me is Colorado’s willingness, seemingly, to play this way with the Kings instead of the other way around, and being patient and playing with them has paid off so far, clearly. They’ve been the better team this series (minus the power play, which is officially 0/7 this series), and were rewarded for it more tonight, as they were finally able to beat Forsberg a few more times tonight than they were in the first two games. Now, they have the opportunity to close this series out on Sunday in LA.
Upcoming
Colorado takes on the Kings for Game 4 of this first-round series looking for the sweep on Sunday, April 26. Puck drop will be at 2:30 p.m. MT.
It was another close game between the Los Angeles Kings and Colorado Avalanche in Game 3, and it was shaping up to be another exciting finish. After that disappointing loss on Tuesday at Denver, where the Kings held a 1-0 lead for nearly a minute in the final frame before losing in overtime as a result of an Avs game-winner, this next game at Crypto.com Arena was their biggest of the season, as they looked to avoid going down 3-0.
But, just as the Kings tied up the game 1-1 midway through the second period, they failed to add on to their goal with several minutes of puck possession and a power play, giving the Avs multiple chances to retake the lead and never look back.
After a slow start for Colorado on offense, they eventually picked it up, scoring late in the second period and third period to hold onto a 4-2 victory to put the Kings in a 3-0 series hole.
Going down 3-0 is nearly impossible to overcome, especially against this Avs team, which is the best offensive team in the NHL, and only four teams have ever come back from it.
The Kings did have a solid start on offense to start this time, outshooting the Avalanche 12-7 in the opening period for the first time in this series after 20 minutes.
It was the most in-control Los Angeles has been to start this series, playing more aggressively on offense and getting more shots inside, yet they trailed 1-0 after the first period.
Colorado's only goal in the first period was a very lucky one: after a missed shot, the puck bounced off the end boards, slid back, and deflected off Anton Forsberg's right skate and in.
It wasn't enough just to be playing well if you're the Kings, given the opponent. With Los Angeles getting on the power play again, it was another missed opportunity for them, coming up short again.
Los Angeles is now 3/11 on the power play in the first three games of this series and has held Colorado to 0/9 in the three games, doing a great job at defending the best offense in the NHL, but can't capitalize on their troubles.
The Avs arguably played one of their worst periods of the game, but were still leading because of LA's inability to execute and capitalize on Colorado's missed shots.
To open the second period, off a Colorado turnover, Los Angeles converted on their first goal of the game to tie the scoreboard 1-1. Forward Trevor Moore continued his impressive play in the playoffs, scoring on the cross-ice feed from Quinton Byfield.
After the goal, Colorado received a penalty after committing a high stick on Moore just as he scored the goal, resulting in a double minor, giving Los Angeles its second power play of the night.
However, the Kings didn't score on the power play, leaving the door wide open for Colorado to score. Since scoring the goal, LA had control of the puck for nearly seven minutes, but couldn't score.
And the President Trophy winners did what they do when you leave the door open for them. At the 7:48 mark of the second period, Cale Makar, one of the best players at creating open lanes, fired the puck through traffic to give the Avs a one-goal lead again, scoring his first goal of the series.
This is what's troubled LA throughout this series so far: the games have been close, and the opportunities have been there for the Kings to score, but elite goaltending by Scott Wedgewood and the Avs defensive pressure make it tough.
For the rest of the period, the Kings generated good shots from Alex Laferriere and Joel Edmundson, with clean shots to potentially tie the game, but, as the story of this series has been so far, they couldn't find the puck in the net.
2-1 Colorado through 40 minutes.
No one closer than Alex Laferriere across these three games. Just can't buy one. Two good looks late, Wedgewood with a great right-pad save on the second.
At the 12:21 mark of the third period, after forward Artemi Panarin set up Adrian Kempe in the power play for a one-timer, Kempe turned the puck over, setting up for a 2-on-1 rush advantage for Colorado, and Artturi Lehkonen slid the puck past Forsberg to give the Avs a two-goal lead.
Kempe has been one of the Kings' most disappointing players to start the playoffs. After a hot stretch in the final stretch of the regular season, he has completely struggled and been frustrated in this series.
Colorado did a good job amping up its defensive intensity in the final period, forcing turnovers and suffocating the Kings in transition, making it tough for the home team to generate shots on goal.
Los Angeles converted on their first power play goal of the night, scoring their third straight power play goal in this series. Panarin hit Kempe with a shot-pass at the right crease, deflecting off Kempe to pull LA within one.
LAK Goal - PPanarin!
Three games in a row with a power-play goal for Panarin, or it might've been a Kempe deflection. Either way, 3-2 game with 4:03 on the clock.
However, the one-goal deficit didn't last long; Colorado forced a turnover, leading to an easy empty-net goal by center Brock Nelson to put the game away and take a commanding 3-0 series lead.
Key Stats
For most of the game, LA looked a lot better at home tonight than in its first two games in Denver, once again getting good looks but missing out on opportunities. The Kings also struggled on the power play again, finishing 1/4, and had a chance to build on their lead late in the second period with a power play, but failed to do so.
Forsberg had a solid game tonight, finishing with 19 saves on 22 shots, coming up with big saves again, but this time the Avs were much better on offense. Credit Wedgewood for making it so tough on the Kings' offense to get any easy goals or shots.
Kempe and Moore scored the lone goals for LA, keeping the game close with each of their goals coming late in the second and third period. But the others couldn't help on offense to make the game more interesting late in the game.
LA is now down 3-0 in this series, heading into Game 4, which could be their final game of the season, and also Anze Kopitar's final game in his career.
The Kings will play Game 4 on Sunday at 1:30 PM PT looking to avoid a sweep.
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Colorado's Artturi Lehkonen (not pictured) scores a shorthanded goal past Kings goalie Anton Forsberg in the third period of Game 3. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
The Colorado Avalanche rode swagger, poise and the league’s stingiest goaltender to the best record in the NHL this season. And nothing about that formula has changed in the postseason, with goals from Gabriel Landeskog, Cale Makar, Artturi Lehkonen and Brock Nelson giving Colorado a 4-2 win Thursday over the Kings and a commanding 3-0 lead in their best-of-seven first-round playoff series.
The Kings, who have lost their last six first-round playoff series, need a victory at home Sunday to extend their season. Their goals in Game 3 came from Trevor Moore in the second period and Adrian Kempe on a third-period power play.
“They’re best team in the league for a reason. But we're right there,” forward Quinton Byfield said. “We're a confident group.”
“One game at home. Must-win game,” defenseman Drew Doughty added. “Everyone's going to give everything they’ve got. We’ve got to win that one, and then hopefully get to go back to Denver.”
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews celebrates a goal by defenseman Cale Makar on Kings goaltender Anton Forsberg during the second period of Game 3 Thursday at Crypto.com Arena. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
The difference in the series has been Avalanche goalie Scott Wedgewood, who was nearly perfect again, making 24 saves to place the Kings 60 minutes away from the offseason.
Anton Forsberg, playing in the postseason for the first time, has been almost as good in goal for the Kings, though he was victimized by two fluke goals and an empty-netter.
“Both goalies in the series have been unbelievable,” Kings coach D.J. Smith said. “Give Wedgewood credit. This guy looks like he's putting his name on the circuit as a big-time goalie.”
The Avalanche, who certainly haven’t needed many lucky breaks in this series, got one early in the first period when Landeskog spun and launched a wild wrister from the blue line that went well wide of the net, only to have the puck carom off the end boards and into the net off Forsberg’s right skate blade.
The goal was the second in as many games for the Colorado captain.
The Kings then got their own break six minutes into the second period when Alex Laferriere jumped Brett Kulak’s clearing pass in the neutral jump and fed Byfield, whose pass into the crease struck Moore’s leg and ricocheted past Wedgewood to tie the score.
Colorado defenseman Devon Toews reaches for the puck against Kings right wing Quinton Byfield in the first period. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Colorado needed less than seven minutes to get the lead back, with Makar getting the puck along the boards on the left wing, skating into space at the point, then zipping a wrist shot through heavy traffic and just under the crossbar.
The Avalanche then increased the advantage 7:39 in the final period after Kempe fanned a shot from the point. Lehkonen collected the loose puck and took it the length of the ice before deflecting a centering pass off Kempe’s skate and by Forsberg for a short-handed goal, his second score of the series.
That appeared to put the game away, but after the Kings pulled Forsberg for an extra attacker, Kempe halved the deficit on a tip-in with 4:02 to play. But then Nelson forced a turnover and scored into the empty net with 2:18 left.
The six goals combined matched the total number from the first two games in Colorado.
“We’ve got to keep doing a lot of the things that we are doing,” Doughty said. “Obviously, we got to clean up giving up some of these chances that we're giving up.”
Kings goalie Anton Forsberg covers the puck as Colorado left wing Gabriel Landeskog battles for it in the second period. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
The Kings’ penalty kill, which ranked 30th in the 32-team league during the regular season, has been brilliant against the Avalanche, turning back all nine Colorado power plays. That, plus stellar play for Forsberg in goal, has frustrated the NHL’s top-scoring team.
But against Wedgewood, the Kings have mustered little offense, scoring just four goals in the series — three times on the power play and once off Moore’s leg.
“We'd like to get more than two goals. Against this team, I don't think it's enough,” Doughty said. “I don't think we're creating enough grade-A chances on Wedgewood. He has played well, so for us to beat them, we’ve got to wear them down in the D-zone, make them tired and score goals that way. And we haven't done that enough.”
They’re guaranteed just one more chance to turn that around.
“There's no quit in there,” Smith said of the Kings’ locker room. “And I think you'll see our best game. To a man, we want to give them a real good outing and push this series back to Colorado.”
As the scenery changes to Salt Lake City, and the upset-minded Utah Mammoth have their sights set on pushing the Golden Knights out of the playoffs, there are three players Vegas could certainly use a boost from three of their biggest offensive stars.
Since the start of the playoffs, Jack Eichel, Tomas Hertl and Mitch Marner have a total of five points - all assists.
Not a good sign, considering they were the third, fourth and fifth leading goal scorers during the regular season, respectively.
Here is some insight into those three who can impact Games 3 and 4 in Salt Lake City, and help the Knights potentially bring a 3-1 series lead back to Vegas.
JACK EICHEL - A key figure in the Knights' championship run in 2023, Eichel started that postseason with just one point after two games, a similar split in Vegas, where the Knights and Winnipeg Jets each won a game. It was Game 3 that he turned in three points, with two goals and an assist. He went on to register at least one point in 14 of Vegas' final 20 games (6 goals, 20 assists). Since their move to Salt Lake City, Eichel has two goals and four assists in six games against the Mammoth.
TOMAS HERTL - After registering just one assist during a 15-game stretch late in the season, Hertl had an assist in three of the last four regular-season games. Last year in the opening round of the playoffs he had just one goal against the Dallas Stars, but then turned in three goals and two assists in the series against the Minnesota Wild. Overall, in 20 playoff games with Vegas, he has four goals and three assists. In six career games against the Mammoth, he has only two goals and one assist.
MITCH MARNER - The prized offseason acquisition got hot in April, after coach John Tortorella arrived, recording four goals and five assists to help the Knights during the season-ending run. He does have an assist in each of the first two games in this series, but the Knights would benefit from a goal or two while they're on the road. Whether or not he can pull it off in Games 3 and 4 remains to be seen since he barely scored on the road during the regular season. Marner ranked fifth on the team with 29 road points, but was ninth with just five goals away from Vegas. During his playoff career, Marner has 65 points (13 goals, 52 assists) in 72 games.
PHOTO CAPTION - Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9) celebrates with right wing Pavel Dorofeyev (16), defenseman Shea Theodore (27), center Tomas Hertl (48), right wing Mark Stone (61) and right wing Mitch Marner (93) after scoring against the San Jose Sharks during the third period at SAP Center at San Jose.
Carolina's Taylor Hall received a two-minute penalty for Thursday's hit, which sent Sanderson's helmet flying. Sanderson, who also blocked a shot with his hand, played two more shifts before heading down the tunnel during a power play.
Senators coach Travis Green told reporters that the hit to the head was what caused the defenseman to leave the game.
"I just don't understand how there's not a five-minute major called on the hit to the head," he said. "It's a blatant hit to the head, the kind of hits you don't want to see.
This is a brutal hit by Taylor Hall on Sanderson, which got two minutes for an illegal check to the head.
"It's ridiculous there wasn't a review. They called a review on (Senators captain) Brady (Tkachuk) on a penalty that I don't even know what the penalty was, and they totally miss a review on (Hall)."
Sanderson, who won a gold medal with Team USA at the Olympics, was the Senators' top-scoring defenseman with 54 points in the regular season. He has two assists in the playoffs and played 43 minutes in Ottawa's double-overtime loss in Game 2.
The Senators lost 2-1 on Thursday and trail the best-of-seven series 3-0. They will try to stave off elimination at home on Saturday, April 25.
For a second straight season, the Ottawa Senators have opened the Stanley Cup Playoffs with three straight losses. They fell 2–1 to the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night, and now trail their first-round best-of-seven series three games to none.
Jackson Blake scored late in the second period to give Carolina a slim 2–1 advantage, but it somehow felt insurmountable on this night—much like a 5–1 game.
Blake scored just 1:23 after Drake Batherson had tied the game at one on a slick feed from Nick Cousins. That goal sent the Canadian Tire Centre crowd into a frenzy and should have given the Senators momentum heading into the second intermission.
But Blake’s goal absolutely sucked the life out of the building.
K’Andre Miller was left wide open at the left point and walked right in. Logan Stankoven drove hard to the net, knocking over Thomas Chabot, which left Blake all the time he needed to corral a cross-ice pass from Miller and bury it into the open net.
Stankoven had the other Canes' goal and now has three in as many games.
Taylor Hall helped set up both of Carolina’s goals, but his most damaging blow to the Senators was his direct headshot on defenceman Jake Sanderson. Sanderson tried to stay in the game but eventually left and did not return. Hall dropped a shoulder into Sanderson, making primary contact with the side of his head and creating the kind of rotational force that can often leads to more severe concussion symptoms.
In all likelihood, had Sanderson stayed down the way Jordan Martinook did later in the game after a collision with Brady Tkachuk, it might have led to a review and a major penalty for Hall.
Senators head coach Travis Green said he’d be shocked if the league doesn’t take further action.
“I just don’t understand how there’s not a five-minute major called on the hit to the head,” Green said. “It’s a blatant hit to the head. It’s the kind of hit you don’t want to see. I think it’s ridiculous there wasn’t a review. They call a review on Brady on a penalty that… I don’t even know what the penalty was.”
In reality, even if Hall had been assessed a more severe penalty, the Senators’ power play likely wouldn’t have capitalized. In the second period, Ottawa had five power-play chances, including a 5-on-3 for 1:28, and came away with nothing.
While it’s tempting for Senators fans to rip the team apart right now, it should also be noted that the Hurricanes are playing a different level of hockey. The Senators entered these playoffs likely prepared for a team like the 2024–25 Toronto Maple Leafs, but the 2026 Carolina Hurricanes are a different animal, playing an elevated, frustrating style of postseason hockey that Ottawa just hasn’t been able to match, despite its best efforts.
The Senators will try to avoid a four-game sweep on Saturday afternoon at 3:00 p.m.
Buffalo's switch to goalie Alex Lyon in net paid off as the Sabres beat the Boston Bruins 3-1 for a 2-1 lead in their first round series.
Coach Lindy Ruff gave Lyon the start after he finished up a Game 2 loss. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen had been pulled in that game after giving four goals on 19 shots, including a long flip shot from center ice.
Alex Lyon made 24 saves, giving up only the game's opening goal to Boston's Tanner Jeannot. Buffalo denied Viktor Arvidsson's penalty shot at 9:50 of the second period before scoring the game-tying goal just 1:08 later.
Noah Ostlund, an injury replacement for Josh Norris, drove down the left wing and slipped a pass from beyond the goal line to Bowen Byram in the right circle, where he knocked home a low wrister over Jeremy Swayman's glove.
Alex Tuch scored the winning goal, sliding down to the top of the left circle to snap a shot high on Swayman in the third period.
Ostlund scored an empty-netter.
Hurricanes take 3-0 series lead vs. Senators
Logan Stankoven scored for the third consecutive game and the Carolina Hurricanes put the Ottawa Senators on the brink of elimination with a 2-1 win in Game 3.
Carolina leads the best-of-seven series 3-0 and Game 4 is set for Saturday at 3 p.m. ET.
Jackson Blake also scored for the Hurricanes. Taylor Hall had two assists, and Frederik Andersen made 21 saves.
Drake Batherson scored his second goal of the series for the Senators, who have yet to have the lead at any point through three games. Linus Ullmark made 25 saves in the loss.
Carolina went 0-for-4 on the power play; Ottawa was 0-for-5 and is 0-for-12 for the series.
Stankoven opened the scoring, giving the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead at 5:13 of the first period. Hall got his own rebound after a shot on the rush, circled behind the net and then passed across to Stankoven, who scored on a wrist shot from the left circle.
Brady Tkachuk got in alone against Andersen early in the second period, but his backhand attempt was stopped.
The Senators had a 5-on-3 power play for 1:28 midway through the second period but did not convert.
Ottawa defenseman Jake Sanderson left the game at 10:07 of the second period with an apparent injury after taking a shot off his left hand. He had earlier taken a shot to the head from Hall.
Batherson tied it 1-1 at 16:06 when he received Nick Cousins' pass in the slot, went to his backhand and lifted it in over Andersen's pad.
Blake put the Hurricanes back on top 2-1 at 17:29. K'Andre Miller received a pass at the point, skated down to the top of the left circle and passed down across to Blake, who scored past the diving Ullmark from the far post.
OTTAWA, CANADA - APRIL 23: Logan Stankoven #22 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates after a goal during the first period against the Ottawa Senators in Game Three of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Canadian Tire Centre on April 23, 2026 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Josh Lavallee/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The Logan Stankoven-Jackson Blake-Taylor Hall line continued their dominance of the series, both Power Plays looked more like they were stuck in black out conditions, and the Carolina Hurricanes showed their playoff experience by entering a hostile road arena and silencing it by defeating the Ottawa Senators 2-1. Carolina now holds a 3-0 lead in the best of seven series.
As expected, the Ottawa crowd was loud, trying to lift the Senators in the first few minutes and establish a tone as their home team entered the series down 0-2. The Senators would go on to follow up on this tone and out hit the Hurricanes 17-9 in the period, but it was clear that the Hurricanes expected the rush and weathered it well. Then just a scant five minutes in, the center-of-the-sun hot Logan Stankoven opened the scoring for the third straight game.
The play showed why the Canes traded for Taylor Hall last season. A year plus later, he’s found his spot and two line mates who seem to just feed off him, and vice-versa. Hall entered the zone alone, and had the space to throw a shot on Linus Ullmark. Ullmark made the shot, but the rebound bounced back to Hall who sped by, went behind the net, and fed a beautiful pass to an open Stankoven who immediately fired to get it past the goalie for a 1-0 lead.
The period had a chance to really get away from Ottawa after that, as the Senators would three penalties—two in the offensive zone. The Canes power play, however, fizzled as it went 0-3 and really didn’t have that many great shots on Ullmark. Frederick Andersen—starting his third game in a row—was sharp and while the shots were nearly even at 10-8, the Canes entered the locker room with the one goal lead.
In the second, the Hurricanes evened out the penalty disparity and then some. Carolina would have to kill off four penalties in the first eleven minutes, including 1:28 of a five-on-three. It was an alarming break down of discipline with checks to the head, too many men, a trip, and a hook that were all so clear that the officials had no choice but to call them. Yet, the penalty kill rose up to knock off each one including the 5-on-3. By the end of the final segment of the fourth penalty the home fans were quiet.
It felt then that the next goal would be scored by the Canes, but much like the first period, the team that had all the Power Plays saw their only goal come at even strength. The puck entered at the blue line and Jalen Chatfield was able to get it across, but against the wall Jordan Martinook would bat the puck back in. Even though some of the Senators were in the zone, with Martinook being the one to push the puck in the play was onside and created a two-on-one with Nick Cousins and Drake Batherson. Cousins skated in and got the puck past a diving Jaccob Slavin over to Batherson, and Batherson beat Andersen to knot the score at one.
The Hurricanes wouldn’t be deterred and not even 90 seconds later Carolina retook the lead thanks not only to the Stankoven line but one of the sickest plays you’ll see from another summer acquisition, K’Andre Miller. On zone entry, Taylor Hall was able to draw multiple Senators over to him against the wall, Miller skated on the other side toward the goal and Hall was able to feed it to him. Miller played it like he was going to put a shot on Ullmark and at the last second threaded a pass over to an open Jackson Bake, who banged it in to give Carolina a 2-1 lead.
Carolina would end the period having to kill another penalty as Jordan Martinook committed another clear infraction, but they would also end the period outshooting Ottawa 10-7 despite giving up five penalties and 1:22 of a 5-on-3.
The Power Play struggles for both teams continued in third as the Senators weren’t able to convert on the end of their advantage, and then Carolina had perhaps their worst power play later in the period when Brady Tkachuk was called for a major penalty that was reduced to a minor on review. All it managed to accomplish was melting two minutes off the clock, but by that point in the third the Senators were completely worn down. What didn’t help was the injury to yet another key defenseman. Jake Sanderson took the Hall check to the head, and then later on took a puck off his hand. After that incident, he never returned.
For perhaps the first time all series, neither goalie let in a goal that they would look at and say they should have stopped. Stankoven’s and Jackson’s goals came off great passes from players that are known shooters and Ullmark had to take them seriously. Anderson’s lone goal he allowed was on a two on one rush that would have required a miraculous save. Both goalies kept their teams in it with Ullmark making 25 saves, and Andersen making 21.
The key for the Canes’ win could be spotted in the faceoff dot. After being dominated the first two games, Brind’Amour apparently worked the team hard over the last couple of days because for the first time they won the faceoff matchup 54.1% to 45.9%. They were led by Sebastian Aho going 63.6% while Jordan Staal went 53.1%.
After the extended break there won’t be much of a rest before the next game. Ottawa will look to avoid the sweep on Saturday at 3 PM. There’s no doubt it’ll still be Ullmark in net for the Senators but once again it appears Ottawa will have to shuffle their pairings. The question will be between Carolina’s pipes as Andersen still hasn’t done anything to deserve being pulled but the short turnaround may see Rod Brind’Amour get Brandon Bussi a game to give the Dane some extra time. We may not know for sure until Saturday.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 24: The Buffalo Sabres celebrate the third-period goal against the Boston Bruins in Game Three of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden on April 24, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** | NHLI via Getty Images
When the Bruins bounced back to win Game 2 and even this first round series, they did it by taking their opportunities on offense and limiting the self-inflicted wounds on defense.
In Game 3, they seemed to revert to some of the same bad habits that plagued them down the stretch in the regular season: inability to take care of the puck in their own zone and an inability to capitalize on the scoring chances that presented themselves.
Ultimately, those issues sank the B’s, as Buffalo took Game 3 by a 3-1 score and now leads the best-of-seven series two games to one.
The Bruins took a 1-0 lead early in the second period, only for Buffalo to respond seven minutes later.
Alex Tuch then scored four minutes into the third period to give the Sabres the lead, followed by an empty-netter from Noah Ostlund to seal the deal.
Tanner Jeannot scored the lone goal for the Bruins, while Jeremy Swayman made 25 saves in defeat.
The Bruins had plenty of chances to tie the game late, including two separate power plays in the last eight minutes of the third period.
Ultimately, they failed to cash in, due to some timely saves by Alex Lyon and some missed opportunities for the Bruins.
Jeannot started the scoring with a wrist shot through traffic, beating Lyon to make it 1-0 Bruins 3:26 into the second period.
That was it for scoring, with Ostlund’s empty-netter coming with 1:24 left in the third.
Bruins lose, 3-1.
Game notes
This was a very frustrating game to watch from a Bruins perspective, as they seemed to struggle to really get anything going on offense all night. Lyon deserves credit for making some stops here and there, but this wasn’t a game stolen by the opposing goalie. Instead, it was a game where the Bruins simply couldn’t generate any real offense, compounded by some equally frustrating play in their own zone.
The officials appeared to miss a clear elbow to the head by Tuch on Mason Lohrei a few seconds before Tuch’s go-ahead goal. It came on a “reverse hit,” and I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a penalty called on a player with possession of the puck like that, but it was one of those “accidentally on purpose” plays that Tuch got away with.
Lohrei had himself a rough night in general, appearing to fight the puck pretty much every time he went back to retrieve it behind his own net. It’s probably a little harsh to single out Lohrei when none of the Bruins defensemen covered themselves in glory tonight, but his mistakes were notable.
The B’s were let down in a big way by their power play tonight, going 0-for-4 — and that included going 0-for-2 in the last eight minutes of the third period. Down a goal, playoff game on home ice…you need something from your power play, and it simply didn’t deliver for the Bruins.
Buffalo actually did the Bruins one better and went 0-for-5 on the power play, though one of those was an afterthought “power play” with nine seconds left in the game, so I’m not sure that counts.
While Lyon didn’t stand on his head for the Sabres, he deserves credit for coming up huge for Buffalo by stopping a Viktor Arvidsson penalty shot midway through the second period. Arvidsson was slashed by Rasmus Dahlin and awarded a penalty shot, but Lyon turned it aside. The Sabres tied the game 68 seconds later.
That Arvidsson miss was one of several missed opportunities on the night for the Bruins. A third period one-timer from Morgan Geekie, shot directly into Lyon in the middle of the net, comes to mind, as do a few other looks late in the game.
The Bruins were boosted by their second line and by David Pastrnak’s performance in Game 2, but those players were unable to make an impact in Game 2. I’m not sure if it’s part of the book on Lyon, but Pastrnak seemed determined to go five-hole at every opportunity. Elias Lindholm didn’t land a shot on net, and neither did Casey Mittelstadt. Geekie only had two. In fact, the Bruins were credited with 25 shots on net, and Zacha, Pastrnak, and Arvidsson recorded 14 of them.
Lindy Ruff deserves credit for pulling the right lever by inserting Noah Ostlund into the lineup, as the rookie assisted Tuch’s goal and scored the empty-netter. Not bad for your first-ever NHL playoff game.
While they brought some good energy in Games 1 and 2, Marco Sturm may have some thoughts about his third line heading into Game 4. Fraser Minten, Marat Khusnutdinov, and James Hagens combined for just a single shot on goal, and Hagens only got three shifts in the third period. This isn’t to suggest that the third line has been the Bruins’ biggest problem, just that it might be the easiest one for Sturm to shake up.
So…there you have it: missed opportunities + own-zone miscues is, generally speaking, not a great recipe for a good result.
Still, 2 games to 1. No real reason to panic.
These two teams will now enjoy two full days between games, with Game 4 slated for Sunday afternoon at TD Garden.
BOSTON (AP) — Bowen Byram scored a minute after Boston missed a penalty shot, and Alex Tuch broke a third-period tie to help Buffalo come from behind and beat the Bruins 3-1 on Thursday night to take a 2-1 lead in the first-round playoff series.
Alex Lyon stopped 24 shots in his first start of the postseason and the Sabres, who snapped an NHL-record 14-year playoff drought by winning the Atlantic Division, regained home-ice advantage in the best-of-seven series. Game 4 is Sunday in Boston, with the Bruins needing a win to assure themselves of another home game.
Jeremy Swayman made 25 saves, and Tanner Jeannot scored early in the second period for the Bruins as they opened the scoring for the third straight game.
Boston had a chance to go up 2-0 when Mattias Samuelsson’s stick broke right in front of the Buffalo net, for a turnover that gave Viktor Arvidsson an open lane on the net. Rasmus Dahlin took him down, leading to a penalty shot.
But Arvidsson shot wide.
About a minute later, Byram one-timed a shot past Swayman to tie it. Tuch made it 2-1 when he grabbed a loose puck and fired it past a screened goalie, and Noah Ostlund added an empty-netter with 84 seconds left.
HURRICANES 2, SENATORS 1
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Jackson Blake broke a tie late in the second period, Frederik Andersen made 21 saves and Carolina beat Ottawa to take a 3-0 lead in the first-round series.
The top team in the Eastern Conference in the regular season, the Hurricanes can wrap up the series Saturday in Ottawa.
Logan Stankoven also scored for Carolina, and Taylor Hall had two assists.
Drake Batherson scored for Ottawa, and Linus Ullmark stopped 25 shots.
With their 2-1 win over the Ottawa Senators in Game 3, the Carolina Hurricanes now have a commanding 3-0 series lead. With this, the Hurricanes need just one more win to advance to the second round.
Former Chicago Blackhawks forward Taylor Hall has been one of the reasons behind the Hurricanes great start to the playoffs, as he is on fire right now for the Metropolitan Division club.
In three playoff games so far this spring with the Hurricanes, Hall has recorded one goal, four assists, and five points. This included him recording two assists in Game 3 for the Canes.
Hall also put together a very strong performance for the Hurricanes in Game 2, as he scored a goal and recorded an assist. With this, there is no question that the former Blackhawks forward is making a real impact for the Hurricanes early on this series.
Seeing Hall having a strong start to the playoffs is not necessarily surprising, as he showed this season with the Hurricanes that he can still be a solid offensive contributor at this point in his career. In 80 games this season with Carolina, the former Blackhawks forward had 18 goals, 30 assists, and 48 points.
In 56 games over two seasons with the Blackhawks, Hall had 11 goals, 17 assists, and 28 points.
The Philadelphia Flyers currently have a commanding 3-0 series lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round. There are many reasons behind it, and veteran forward Sean Couturier is one of them.
Couturier has been turning back the clock for the Flyers so far this postseason, and the truth is in his stats. In three playoff games, the 2011 first-round pick has recorded three assists and a plus-2 rating. This included him recording two assists in Game 3 for the Flyers, with one of them being on defenseman Nick Seeler's game-winning goal in the second period.
With this, there is no question that Couturier has been playing some strong hockey for the Flyers early on this postseason. It is undoubtedly good news for the Flyers, as the 6-foot-4 forward is one of their most important players. If he continues to produce offensively and make an impact with his defensive play, the Flyers should stay in good shape from here.
In 42 career playoff games over his NHL career, Couturier has recorded 10 goals, 15 assists, 25 points, and a plus-3 rating. It will be interesting to see how he builds on them as this series continues.
Artturi Lehkonen delivered a crucial insurance goal midway through the third period, helping the Colorado Avalanche pull away for a 4–2 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena.
With the victory, Colorado takes a commanding 3–0 lead in the first-round playoff series. The Avalanche haven't picked up a four-game sweep in the first round of the playoffs since their Stanley Cup championship in 2022, when they dominated the Nashville Predators.
Gabriel Landeskog set the tone early, Cale Makar added his trademark burst from the blue line, and Brock Nelson chipped in another timely finish as Colorado dictated the pace for long stretches.
Logan O'Connor prior to Game 2. t
Scott Wedgewood was calm when it mattered most, turning aside 24 of 26 shots to help put the Avalanche one win away from advancing.
Los Angeles didn’t go quietly. They haven’t all series. The Kings outshot Colorado 12–7 in the opening period and got goals from Adrian Kempe and Trevor Moore, while Anton Forsberg delivered another strong effort in net. But despite the push, the result feels all too familiar—Los Angeles now sits one loss away from a first-round exit for the fifth straight season.
This time, though, it won’t be the Edmonton Oilers delivering the coup de grâce.
First Period
Nearly four minutes in, Forsberg had to be sharp early, flashing the glove on a slick redirect from Lehkonen that looked labeled for the corner.
Colorado broke through at 5:29 thanks to a gritty sequence. After a hard-fought puck battle behind the net, the puck kicked out to Landeskog, who spun and fired from a sharp angle. It wasn’t pretty, but it didn’t need to be—the puck ricocheted off the end boards, clipped Forsberg’s right skate, and trickled across the line for a 1–0 lead.
The Kings got their first chance to respond on the power play with just over five minutes left after a cross-checking call on Manson, but Colorado’s penalty kill held firm.
Moments later, Manson took a heavy hit into the Kings’ bench from Edmundson and tumbled awkwardly, eventually heading down the tunnel. The period closed with another penalty—Byfield went off for elbowing Drury—but the Avalanche carried their one-goal edge into the intermission.
Second Period
Manson didn’t return right away to start the second, and Colorado couldn’t take advantage of the remaining power-play time.
When he did come back, the game quickly turned chaotic. A shot from the right circle created a scramble in front, and Moore was credited with the tying goal after the puck deflected through traffic. On the same sequence, a high stick from Manson caught Moore up high and drew blood. What was initially called a double minor was trimmed to two minutes once the goal stood.
TREVOR MOORE SCORES AND DRAWS A DOUBLE MINOR ON JOSH MANSON⁉️
Not long after, Manson disappeared down the tunnel again, clearly laboring, while Malinski also made a brief exit before returning to the bench.
Colorado regained control midway through the period. At 12:12, Makar stepped into space and wired a wrist shot through a maze of bodies, the puck sneaking past a fully screened Forsberg and into the top corner to restore the lead.
Tensions boiled over later in the frame when Helenius drove MacKinnon from behind, sending him hard to the ice. The officials handed out matching minors, a call that didn’t sit well given the force of the hit.
Nathan MacKinnon got called for embellishment on this play with Samuel Helenius who also went off for cross-checking...
The Kings pushed hard late, tilting the ice and forcing Wedgewood to stay busy, but Colorado bent without breaking. Despite being outshot 19–15 through two, the Avalanche carried a 2–1 lead into the third.
Third Period
Early in the third, Byfield took his second penalty of the night, hauling down Makar as he cut toward the net. It was a necessary foul, but Colorado’s power play once again came up empty.
Seconds after the kill, the momentum flipped again—this time for good. Kulak was whistled for interference, and while Los Angeles looked poised to capitalize, Lehkonen struck shorthanded. On a clean 2-on-1 rush, he snapped a shot that deflected off Kempe’s skate and slipped through Forsberg, stretching the lead to 3–1 and silencing the building.
LEHKONEN SCORES SHORTHANDED FOR THE AVS AND HE BANKED IT OFF KEMPE AND IN 😭😵💫 pic.twitter.com/Vmr1Ackhx8
They finally found life late. With just over four minutes remaining, a tripping call on Drury opened the door. Los Angeles pulled the goalie for a 6-on-4 advantage, and Kempe redirected a shot past Wedgewood to cut the deficit to one.
The push was on, and the building had energy again.
But it didn’t last.
After pulling the goalie a second time, a miscue at the blue line proved costly. Nelson jumped on the loose puck and buried it into the empty net, sealing the 4–2 final and pushing Colorado to the brink of a sweep.
Up Next
The Avalanche will have a chance to pick up the four-game sweep on Sunday when they take on the Kings at Crypto.com Arena. Coverage begins at 2:30 p.m. local time.
