UNDATED (AP) — The NHL’s regular-season conference champions are having polar opposite success in their respective Stanley Cup playoff series. The Colorado Avalanche are on the verge of a four-game sweep, while the Florida Panthers are trailing their series for the second time.
Gabriel Landeskog (LAN’-dehs-kahg) had a four-point game and the Avalanche went 4-for-5 with the man advantage in a 7-3 downing of the Predators. Landeskog scored twice in the second period and had two assists as the Avs took a 3-0 series lead.
Nazem Kadri (NA’-zehm KA’-dree) and Devon Toews (deh-VAHN tayvz) each added a goal and an assist for Colorado, while Arturri Lehkonen (ahr-TOOR’-ee LEH’-koh-nehn) and Nathan MacKinnon each furnished power-play goals.
Avalanche goalie Darcy Kuemper (KEHM’-pur) took a stick to the eye with a minute left in the first period. Pavel Francouz (FRAN’-sohs) replaced him and made 20 saves in his seventh career playoff appearance.
The Avalanche can wrap up the series in Nashville on Monday as the Predators try to avoid being swept for the first time.
Special teams are a big reason why the Washington Capitals own a two-games-to-one lead over the NHL’s regular-season champs in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Alex Ovechkin had a goal and an assist while the Caps were going 2-for-6 on the power play in a 6-1 win over the Panthers. Ovechkin set up TJ Oshie’s power-play tally that tied the game with 26 seconds in the first period. Ovi (OH’-vee) also ignited Washington’s three-goal third period.
The Capitals have gone 4-for-12 with the man advantage in the season, while the Panthers are 0-for-9.
Ilya Samsonov (EEL’-yah sam SOH’-nahv) stopped 29 shots for his first victory in four career postseason starts.
The series stays in Washington for Game 4 on Monday.
The Penguins coughed up a 4-1 lead before scoring three times in the final nine minutes of their 7-4 victory over the Rangers. Danton Heinen broke the 4-4 deadlock before Jake Guentzel (GEHNT’-sul) and Jeff Carter added empty-netters, securing the Pens’ two-games-to-one lead in the opening-round series.
Pittsburgh appeared to be in control after Evan Rodrigues scored the last two goals of the opening period, putting the Penguins up by three. But the Rangers eventually tied it on Andrew Copp’s short-handed goal late in the second after Frank Vatrano and Artemmi Panarin (ahr-TEH’-mee pah-NAH’-rihn) tallied 67 seconds apart in the period.
Louis Domingue (doh-MIHNG’) stopped 32 shots for the Penguins, who host Game 4 on Monday.
In Dallas, Joe Pavelski’s second goal of the night was the game-winner in the Stars’ 4-2 victory against the Flames. Pavelski tied it 2-2 midway through the second period and added a power-play goal halfway through the third.
Jake Oettinger (AH’-tihn-jur) handled 39 shots and blanked the Flames after Elias Lindholm beat him 3:40 into the second period.
Radek Faksa had the first goal and Roope Hintz added an empty-netter for the Stars, who host Game 4 on Monday.
