PETRY CAPS CANADIENS’ RALLY AS MONTREAL STUNS PITTSBURGH IN GAME 3

The Canadiens scored three unanswered goals – capped by Jeff Petry potting the winner at 5:33 of the third period – to erase a 3-1 deficit and defeat the Penguins in Game 3. Montreal rallied from a multi-goal deficit to win a postseason contest for the first time since Game 1 of the 2008 Conference Semifinals.

* Petry, who scored the overtime winner in Game 1, became the sixth defenseman in franchise history with multiple game-winning goals in a single postseason and first since Chris Chelios over 31 years ago. He also became the fourth member of that cohort to score two game-winning goals in a single postseason series.

* Petry became the seventh defenseman in NHL history – and fourth in the modern era (since 1943-44) – to score two game-winning goals through his team’s first three contests in a postseason. He joined Georges Mantha in 1931 (w/ MTL), Baldy Northcott in 1935 (w/ MMR), Babe Pratt in 1937 (w/ NYR), Scott Stevens in 1986 (w/ WSH), Brian Leetch in 1994 (w/ NYR) and Nicklas Lidstrom in 2007 (w/ DET).

* Petry wasn’t the only Canadiens defenseman to leave his mark on Game 3. Shea Weber (1-2—3) established a single-game career high for points in a postseason contest and became the first Montreal blueliner with three or more in a playoff outing since Andrei Markov in Game 5 of the 2014 Conference Finals (0-3—3).

* Carey Price made 30 saves to earn the 27th postseason win of his NHL career and move into a tie with Bill Durnan for fifth place on the franchise’s all-time list. He now trails only Ken Dryden (80), Patrick Roy (70), Jacques Plante (59) and Gump Worsley (29).

BLACKHAWKS ALSO RALLY TO TAKE 2-1 SERIES LEAD

Trailing 3-2 late in the third period, the Blackhawks scored a pair of goals in the final 5:47 of regulation, including a game winner by Jonathan Toews (2-0—2) with just 1:16 remaining in the third period, to take a 2-1 series lead against the Oilers.

* It marked the sixth time in Blackhawks history they scored a game-winning goal in the final 2:00 of regulation in a postseason game and the first since Dave Bolland’s Stanley Cup-clinching goal with 59 seconds remaining in the third period of Game 6 of the 2013 Stanley Cup Final. In that game, Chicago was also trailing late in the third period before Bryan Bickell’s tying goal with 1:16 remaining in the final frame set the stage for Bolland’s dramatic clincher.

* Toews recorded his ninth career multi-goal game in the playoffs. Only Bobby Hull (14) and Denis Savard (10) have more with the Blackhawks franchise.

* Toews has now scored 44 career postseason goals for the Blackhawks to break a tie with Patrick Sharp (42) for sole possession of sixth on the franchise’s all-time list – one back of Steve Larmer (45) for fifth.

HOFFMAN, PANTHERS STAVE OFF ELIMINATION

Panthers forwards Mike Hoffman (1-1—2) and Brian Boyle (1-0—1) scored two third-period goals in 2:07 to defeat the Islanders and stave off elimination for the first time since the 1996 Conference Finals. Florida improved to 3-5 in the postseason when facing elimination, with their only other such victories coming more than 24 years ago against the Penguins.

* Hoffman, who led Florida with 29 goals during the regular season, has registered 1-1—2 in consecutive games. This marks the first time he has recorded multiple points in consecutive playoff contests (28 GP), and just the fifth time a Panthers player has done so - Reilly Smith (3 GP) was the last in 2016, while Stu Barnes (2 GP), Ray Sheppard (2 GP) and Jason Wooley (2 GP) all accomplished the feat in 1996.

COYOTES TAKE 2-1 SERIES LEAD AS KUEMPER ESTABLISHES FRANCHISE RECORD
Darcy Kuemper turned aside 39 of 40 shots – including 19 in the first period – to backstop the Coyotes to a 2-1 lead in their qualifying round series. The Coyotes own a 2-1 lead in a best-of-five postseason series for the second time in franchise history – the first instance was as the Winnipeg Jets against the Flames in the 1985 Division Semifinals, an eventual four-game win.

* Kuemper established a franchise record for most saves in a postseason period. He eclipsed the previous mark of 18, which he achieved in Game 1 along with three other goaltenders: Sean Burke (Game 4 of 2000 CQF), Ilya Bryzgalov (Game 1 of 2010 CQF & Game 7 of 2010 CQF) and Mike Smith (Game 5 of 2012 CF).



LIGHTNING, AVALANCHE IMPROVE TO 2-0-0 IN ROUND ROBIN PLAY
The Lightning and Avalanche both earned wins on Wednesday to remain undefeated in round robin play.

* The Bruins rallied to tie the game after facing a 2-0 deficit, but Tyler Johnson (1-1—2) scored the go-ahead goal with 1:27 remaining in regulation as the Lightning improved to 2-0-0 in round robin play. Johnson scored his eighth career game-winning goal in the postseason to move into a tie with Martin St. Louis for the most in franchise history.

* Johnson’s winner on Wednesday was the second-latest go-ahead goal in regulation in Tampa Bay postseason history. He scored the latest at 19:58 of the third period in Game 3 of the 2015 Second Round.

* The Lightning will contest their third and final round robin game on Saturday versus the Flyers (1-0-0).



* Pavel Francouz turned aside all 27 shots he faced as the Avalanche improved to 2-0-0 in round robin play. Francouz became the first goaltender in Avalanche/Nordiques history to record a shutout in his postseason debut and the third to earn a win, following Mario Gosselin (Game 1 of 1985 DSF) and Craig Anderson (Game 3 of 2010 CQF).

* The Avalanche will play their third and final round robin game on Saturday against the Golden Knights (1-0-0).



CROSBY CLIMBS NHL’S ALL-TIME POSTSEASON POINTS, ASSISTS LISTS
Penguins captain Sidney Crosby collected an assist to record the 189th postseason point of his NHL career (68-121—189 in 167 GP) and pass Joe Sakic (84-104—188 in 172 GP) and Doug Gilmour (60-128—188 in 182 GP) for sole possession of eighth place on the League’s all-time list.



* Crosby recorded the 121st postseason assist of his NHL career, tying him with Al MacInnis (39-121—160 in 177 GP) and Glenn Anderson (93-121—214 in 225 GP) for 10th place in League history.

QUICK CLICKS

* NHL announces start times for Cup Qualifier games on Aug. 7
* Maple Leafs' Jake Muzzin out for remainder of Stanley Cup Qualifiers
* Bruins not worried after losing No. 1 seed in East

* Five questions with NHL Central Scouting’s Dan Marr

PREVIEW OF TODAY’S ACTION