LIGHTNING STUN ISLANDERS TO WIN BACK-AND-FORTH GAME 3
Nikita Kucherov scored with 38.4 seconds remaining in regulation – the fourth tying goal of the game and third by the Lightning – and Brian Boyle notched the winner at 2:48 of overtime to lift Tampa Bay to a 2-1 series lead against the Islanders.

* Via Elias, the Lightning scored a game-tying goal in the final minute of regulation in an eventual playoff win for the second time in franchise history. They also achieved the feat in Game 3 of 2004 Conference Semifinals at MTL, when Vincent Lecavalier tied the game at 19:43 of the third period and Brad Richards notched the winner 65 seconds into the extra frame.

* Boyle notched his first career overtime goal (regular-season and playoffs, 640 GP). His only other playoff game-winning goals came with the Rangers in the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

* Kucherov, who paces all players with seven goals this postseason, has collected 18-15—33 in 36 career playoff games (all w/ TBL). His 18 goals are tied with Tyler Johnson(38 GP) and Richards (45 GP) for third all-time in franchise playoff history.

* Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (1-2—3), who logged a game-high 30:15 of ice time, matched a franchise playoff record for points in a game by a defenseman. Eric Brewer also posted 1-2—3 in Game 2 of the 2011 Conference Quarterfinals at PIT.

WEBER MATCHES FRANCHISE RECORDS AS PREDATORS CUT SERIES DEFICIT
The Sharks opened the scoring but the Predators responded with four unanswered goals – including the decisive tally by Shea Weber (1-1—2) – to cut their series deficit to 2-1.

* Weber registered his fifth career multi-point playoff game and first since Game 2 of the 2011 Conference Quarterfinals at ANA. In doing so, he equaled franchise records for career playoff goals (13), assists (15) and points (28).

* The Predators improved to 4-0 in Game 3 after losing the first two contests of a series. They have never faced a 3-0 series deficit in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

* MUST SEE: Predators mascot Gnash responded to the Sharks’ black cat good luck charm prior to Game 3.

THREE FINALISTS NAMED FOR NHL FOUNDATION PLAYER AWARD
The NHL announced that defenseman Mark Giordano of the Calgary Flames, forward Matt Martin of the New York Islanders and defenseman P.K. Subban of the Montreal Canadiens are the three finalists for the 2015-16 NHL Foundation Player Award, which is presented to “an NHL player who applies the core values of hockey – commitment, perseverance and teamwork – to enrich the lives of people in his community.”

Click here for more information.

The NHL will reveal the three finalists for the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award prior to tonight’s game.

LOOSE PUCKS
The Lightning, who played past regulation for the first time this postseason, improved to 12-7 in all-time playoff overtimes games (9-3 on the road) . . . Islanders forward Josh Bailey (2-0—2) scored twice in his return from a three-game absence . . . Predators forward Colin Wilson (1-0—1) has collected 13 of his 15 career postseason points over the past two playoff years (8-5—13 in 16 GP) . . .The Department of Player Safetysuspended Penguins defenseman Kris Letang for one game for interference against Capitals forward Marcus Johansson . . . The semifinals for the EA SPORTS NHL 17 Cover Vote pit San Jose’s Joe Pavelski against Edmonton’s Connor McDavid and Dallas’ Jamie Benn against St. Louis’ VladimirTarasenko. Voting for this round is open until 3 p.m. ET on May 9 . . . Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota waved the rally towel on the ice at Bridgestone Arena prior to Game 3 . . . The PGA’s U.S. Open Championship Trophy paid a visit to the NHL office during its tour of New York City.

SNEAK PEEK AT WEDNESDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Washington @ Pittsburgh, 8:00 p.m., PIT leads 2-1, NBCSN, CBC, TVAS
NBC Sports Channel Finder
Sportsnet Channel Finder
NHL Network Channel Finder

PENGUINS HOST CAPITALS ON ANNIVERSARY OF ‘DUELING HAT TRICKS’
The Penguins look to take a 3-1 series lead when they welcome the Capitals to CONSOL Energy Center for Game 4 of their Second Round series. The contest falls exactly seven years after Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby and Washington’s Alex Ovechkineach recorded a hat trick in Game 2 of the 2009 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals (a 4-3 Capitals win) in their second ever playoff meeting.

GIONTA TO APPEAR ON NHL NETWORK
Sabres captain Brian Gionta, who won a Stanley Cup with the Devils in 2002-03 and has 112 career playoff games to his credit (32-36—68), will be a guest on NHL Tonight on the NHL Network (7 p.m. ET).

the information above was provided by the NHL PR department