ISLANDERS WIN SEE-SAW AFFAIR IN SERIES OPENER
John Tavares (1-2—3) scored one of three game-tying goals for the Islanders and RyanStrome (1-1—2) notched what stood as the winning tally to lead the Islanders past the Panthers in their first ever playoff meeting.

* Via Elias, the Islanders – who trailed 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 – scored three game-tying goals in a playoff game and won for the first time in franchise history.

* Tavares, who established a career high for points in a playoff game, became the first Islanders player to record three points in a postseason contest since May 7, 2013, whenMark Streit (2-1—3), Casey Cizikas (1-2—3) and Brad Boyes (0-3—3) all accomplished the feat vs. PIT.

* Tavares has collected 8-9—17 in his past 11 games (regular-season and playoffs) dating to March 23 vs. OTT, including a goal in five straight.

HOLTBY FLAWLESS IN GAME 1 VICTORY . . .
Braden Holtby made 19 saves to record his third career playoff shutout and John Carlson scored his first career postseason game-winning goal to lead the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Capitals past the Flyers in their series opener.

* Holtby has allowed no more than one goal in 14 of 17 career postseason victories, including each of his last 11 dating to Game 6 of the 2012 Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. NYR. He paces all active goaltenders (minimum 20 GP) in career postseason goals-against average (1.86) and save percentage (.937).

* Holtby, who matched an NHL record with 48 wins in the regular season (48-9-7), improved to 6-0-3 in his last nine appearances (regular-season and playoffs) dating to March 22.

. . . LEHTONEN, BENN LEAD STARS IN GAME 1 SHUTOUT
Kari Lehtonen turned aside all 22 shots he faced and Jamie Benn (1-2—3) posted his first career multi-point game in the postseason to lead the Western Conference champion Stars past the Wild in their series opener.

* Lehtonen, who registered his second career postseason shutout (also April 21, 2014 vs. ANA), improved to 7-1-0 in his last eight appearances (regular-season and playoffs) dating to March 17, including four consecutive victories.

* Benn has registered at least one point in six of his seven career playoff games (5-3—8). He also extended his point streak against the Wild to nine games dating to the 2014-15 regular season (4-12—16).

* Radek Faksa (1-0—1), the 13th overall selection in the 2012 NHL Draft, notched the game-winning goal in his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut. ICYMI: Stars forward Antoine Rousselhustled to the bench to stay on-side seconds before Faksa scored.

MILESTONES & BENCHMARKS
* Panthers forward Jaromir Jagr played in his 203rd career playoff game (tops among active players) to move past BrettHull and Scott Niedermayer (both w/ 202) into sole possession of 18th place in NHL history among skaters/goaltenders.

* Flyers forward Sam Gagner, who has played 615 career regular-season games, made his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut.

LOOSE PUCKS
Sharks goaltender Martin Jones (19 SV), who won a Stanley Cup with the Kings in 2014, defeated his former club in his first postseason start . . . Islanders goaltender Thomas Greiss made 42 saves, including a game-saving stop on Jaromir Jagr in the final minute of regulation, to earn the win in his first career playoff start . . . Panthers forward Reilly Smith (2-1—3) established playoff career highs for goals and points in a game. TeammateJussi Jokinen (1-2—3) notched his second career three-point game in the postseason (also May 8, 2009 vs. BOS: 1-2—3 w/ CAR) . . . Sharks defenseman Brent Burns (1-1—2) registered his third career multi-point game in the postseason. He set single-season franchise records for goals (27), assists (48) and points (75) by a defenseman in 2015-16 . . . The NHL announced that the start time for Game 4 between the Penguins and Rangers has been set for 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 21, in New York . . . The Flyers will wear a special patch throughout the postseason in memory of owner and chairman Ed Snider, who passed away Monday.

SNEAK PEEK AT FRIDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Detroit @ Tampa Bay, TBL leads 1-0, 7:00 p.m., CNBC, CBC, TVAS, FS-F, FS-D
NY Islanders @ Florida, NYI leads 1-0, 7:30 p.m., NHLN-US, SN360, TVAS3, SUN, MSG+
Chicago @ St. Louis, STL leads 1-0, 8:00 p.m., NBCSN, SN, TVAS2, FS-MW, CSN-CH
Nashville @ Anaheim, Game 1, 10:30 p.m., NBCSN, CBC, TVAS, PRIME, FS-TN
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DUCKS, PREDATORS MEET IN LAST SERIES OPENER
The Ducks – who clinched the Pacific Division title on the final day of the regular season – welcome the Predators to Honda Center for Game 1 of their opening round series. Anaheim, coming off its third consecutive 100-point season, became the first team since 1984-85 to lead the NHL in both power-play (23.1%) and penalty-kill (87.2%) efficiency. Nashville, who clinched a playoff berth for the second consecutive season and ninth time in the past 12 campaigns, is led by All-Star defensemen Shea Weber and Roman Josi as well as forward Filip Forsberg, who equaled a single-season franchise record with 33 goals in 2015-16. This marks the second all-time playoff meeting between these clubs and first since 2011, when the Predators won their first series in team history (4-2 W in CQF).

the above information was provided by the NHL PR department