CHICAGO RALLIES, BUT VEGAS EMERGES WITH OT WIN, 2-0 SERIES LEAD
The Blackhawks erased deficits of 2-0 and 3-2 to force overtime, but Reilly Smith scored his third goal of the series – and first career playoff overtime goal – to give the Golden Knights a 2-0 series lead. Vegas' only other 2-0 series lead came in the 2018 First Round when they swept Los Angeles en route to the Stanley Cup Final.

* Jonathan Marchessault collected two assists to record multiple points for a third consecutive game (2-4—6), the second time he has done so in the postseason following an equal run in 2018 (4-2—6). Only two other players have posted at least three straight multi-point playoff games for Vegas: Max Pacioretty (4 GP: 4-6—10 in 2019) and William Karlsson (3 GP: 3-4—7 in 2018).

DEFENSEMEN HELP STARS ESCAPE WITH LATE VICTORY, EVEN SERIES

Miro Heiskanen scored twice and Jamie Oleksiak tallied the go-ahead, game-winning goal with 39.2 seconds remaining in regulation – after the Flames erased a two-goal deficit in the third period – to help the Stars tie the series at one game apiece. They will meet for Game 3 at 10:30 p.m. ET tonight (CBC, TVAS, SN, FS-SW, NBCSN).

* Heiskanen (21 years, 26 days) became the fourth-youngest defenseman in NHL history to score multiple goals in a playoff game, behind Phil Housley (19 years, 44 days) with the Sabres in 1983, Red Kelly (20 years, 267 days) with the Red Wings in 1948 and Sergei Gonchar (21 years, 23 days) with the Capitals in 1995. A defenseman has never scored a playoff hat trick at age 21 or younger.

* Oleksiak became the third player in Stars/North Stars history to score a go-ahead goal in the final minute of regulation in the playoffs. The others did so while the club was based in Minnesota (Bobby Smith: Game 1 of 1983 Division Semifinals vs. TOR and Don Barber: Game 4 of 1989 Division Semifinals vs. STL). It was the second such goal of the 2020 postseason (also Nazem Kadri vs. STL in SCQ). There was one such goal over the previous four playoff years combined (Jaden Schwartz in Game 5 of 2019 R1 w/ STL).

LEHNER, HAMILTON BITE FORMER CLUBS IN GAME 2 VICTORIES
Former Blackhawks goaltender Robin Lehner and former Bruins defenseman Dougie Hamilton each played key roles in defeating past teammates:

* Lehner made 22 saves to record his third career playoff overtime victory and has now won each of his seven appearances with the Golden Knights since being acquired from the Blackhawks – via the Maple Leafs – on Feb. 24. He is the fifth goaltender in NHL history to change teams during a season and face that former club in the ensuing playoffs, following Mike Condon (2016-17: w/ OTT vs. PIT), Greg Millen (1989-90: w/ CHI vs. STL), Bob Froese (1986-87: w/ NYR vs. PHI) and Hal Winkler (1926-27: w/ BOS vs. NYR). Lehner is the only one to earn multiple victories against his former club in the playoffs.

* Hamilton scored his first playoff game-winning goal for Carolina, his first such goal in more than six years. Playing as a 20-year-old sophomore with Boston in the 2014 First Round, Hamilton scored the opening goal in an eventual 3-0 Bruins victory over the Red Wings in Game 3 – the only other winning goal of his postseason career.



DUBOIS, BJORKSTRAND (AGAIN) LEAD BLUE JACKETS PAST LIGHTNING
Pierre-Luc Dubois (0-2—2) recorded his second straight multi-point game while Oliver Bjorkstrand scored the game-winning goal to help the Blue Jackets rebound from a quintuple-overtime loss in Game 1 to tie their series with the Lightning at 1-1.

* Dubois has eight points in seven games this postseason (4-4—8), including 1-3—4 in the First Round against the Lightning. Dubois, the third overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, has 17 points in 23 career playoff games to trail only two players from his draft class – Auston Matthews (25 GP) and Charlie McAvoy (46 GP), who each have skated in more postseason games. Eight of the top 10 playoff performers from the 2016 Draft remain in the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

* Bjorkstrand has scored in four consecutive postseason games against the Lightning dating to Game 3 of the 2019 First Round. Only one other player, regardless of team, has scored in more consecutive postseason appearances against Tampa Bay: Martin Havlat (6-4—10 in 5 GP from April 21-29, 2006 w/ OTT).

* Bjorkstrand also became the second active player to have each of his first three career playoff game-winning goals come against one opponent. While playing with the Rangers, DerekStepan scored each of his first three career game-winning goals against the Capitals (from 2013 to 2015; he has not scored one since).
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QUICK CLICKS

* Claude Julien in hospital, Canadiens coach likely out rest of East First Round
* Dan Hamhuis retires after 16 NHL seasons
* Troy Stecher honors late dad after goal for Canucks in Game 1 win vs. Blues

* P.K. Subban kicks off new 'Ugly Duckling' podcast with Gary Bettman, Jerry Bruckheimer
* #NHLStats: Live Updates - Aug. 13, 2020

PREVIEW OF TODAY’S ACTION
The final four Game 2s of the First Round are on today's schedule, as is Game 3 between the Stars and Flames as they go toe-to-toe for a second straight day.

* Teams that take a 2-0 lead in a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Playoffs series hold an all-time series record of 324-51 (86.4%).

* When a best-of-seven series is tied 1-1, the winner of Game 3 owns an all-time series record of 215-106 (67.0%).

DID YOU KNOW?

Flames forward Dillon Dube set a franchise record for fastest goal from the start of a playoff game on Thursday. In the process, he scored the game's opening goal for a third straight contest, becoming the first player to do so in the playoffs in more than a dozen years (and first ever to do so for the Flames). Should he make it 1-0 tonight in Game 3, he would join Michel Goulet as just the second player in NHL history to achieve the feat in four straight playoff games – Goulet did so with the Nordiques in 1985.

* Before Dube hits the ice, another player has a chance to join him with the opening goal in three straight games – T.J. Oshie of the Capitals. It has been done in the playoffs only four times in the last 20 years: Dube, Andrew Brunette for Colorado in 2008, Rob Blake for Colorado in 2002 and Mike Modano for Dallas in 2000.