NHL Peachy: Morning Skate: Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition – May 3, 2017
TUESDAY’S RESULTS
Home Team in Caps
NY RANGERS 4, Ottawa 1 – OTT leads 2-1
NASHVILLE 2, St. Louis 1 – NSH leads 3-1
PREDATORS HANG ON TO TAKE 3-1 SERIES LEAD
The Predators scored twice in the third period and held off a late push by the Blues to take a 3-1 series lead and move within one win of reaching the Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history.
* Nashville improved to 7-1 in the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs, including a 4-0 clip at Bridgestone Arena. The Predators have won eight consecutive postseason games at home dating to Game 6 of the 2016 First Round vs. ANA.
* Ryan Ellis scored for the third straight contest to extend his point streak to seven games (4-5—9). Elias notes that he matched the franchise record for longest point streak in the postseason, set by Colin Wilson in 2016 (4-5—9). Ellis became the first defenseman on any team to record a seven-game point streak in the postseason since Chris Pronger (1-8—9 w/ STL) and Jason Woolley (1-8—9 w/ BUF) in 1998.
* Ellis established a franchise record for goals in a single postseason by a defenseman and tied the Predators benchmark for most points by a blueliner, set by Roman Josi in 2016 (1-8—9).
* Pekka Rinne made 32 saves to improve to 7-1 in the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs (1.33 GAA, .953 SV%, 3 SO). Rinne matched the franchise record for wins in a single postseason, a mark he set in 2016 (7-7).
RANGERS RIDE EARLY LEAD TO FIRST WIN OF SERIES
Four different scorers helped the Rangers jump out to a four-goal advantage – led by a multi-point effort from Mats Zuccarello (1-1—2) – and Henrik Lundqvist made 26 saves to earn the victory as New York cut the deficit to 2-1 in their Second Round series.
* The Rangers faced a 2-0 series deficit and won Game 3 for the first time since the 2013 Conference Quarterfinals vs. WSH. New York went on to win that series in seven games.
* Lundqvist became the 15th goaltender in NHL history to win 60 career playoff games. He tied Turk Broda for 14th place all-time and moved within one of equaling Tom Barrasso (61) for 13th place.
* The Rangers have earned at least one win in each of their last 21 playoff series dating to the start of the 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the longest such run in franchise history.
BURNS, CROSBY AND McDAVID NAMED TED LINDSAY AWARD FINALISTS
Sharks defenseman Brent Burns, Penguins center Sidney Crosby and Oilers center Connor McDavid are the finalists for the 2016-17 Ted Lindsay Award, presented annually to the most outstanding player in the NHL, as voted by fellow members of the NHL Players' Association.
The winner will be announced Wednesday, June 21, during the 2017 NHL Awards at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Click here for more information.
LOOSE PUCKS
Predators defensemen have combined for a League-leading eight goals in the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs (8 GP). Their eight tallies are a franchise record for most in a single postseason by defensemen, eclipsing the mark set in 2016 (7 in 14 GP) . . . Senators forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau (1-0—1) ranks tied for second in the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs with six goals (9 GP) . . . Blues defenseman Joel Edmundson scored his third goal of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs (9 GP), matching his total from the 2016-17 regular season (69 GP) . . . The NHL and Sabres announced the NHL Scouting Combine will remain in Buffalo through 2019 . . . The Maple Leafs signed defenseman Nikita Zaitsev to a seven-year contract . . . Country singer Vince Gill and his daughters performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Bridgestone Arena prior to Game 4 between the Blues and Predators . . . Mixed martial artist and former Welterweight Champion Georges St-Pierre took in the Rangers-Senators game at Madison Square Garden and met Rangers legend Mark Messier.
Photo via @GeorgesStPierre
SNEAK PEEK AT WEDNESDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Washington @ Pittsburgh, PIT leads 2-1, 7:30 p.m., CBC, TVAS, NBCSN
Anaheim @ Edmonton, EDM leads 2-1, 10 p.m., SN, TVAS, NBCSN
