NHL Short Notes

THREE HARD LAPS

* Joe Pavelski scored a hat trick and Alexander Radulov found the back of the net in overtime to help the Stars win Game 4 and survive a 57-save performance by Flames netminder Cam Talbot.

*Corey Crawford shined in a 48-save performance as the Blackhawks stifled the Golden Knights to earn their first win of the series and stave off elimination.

* Mathew Barzal scored less than five minutes into overtime as the Islanders improved to 6-1 since the start of the Stanley Cup Qualifiers, including a 3-0 mark in their First Round series with the Capitals.

PAVELSKI NETS HAT TRICK, RADULOV POTS OT WINNER AS STARS PULL EVEN
Joe Pavelski tied the game with 11.9 seconds remaining in regulation to complete the hat trick and Alexander Radulov deflected the overtime winner past Cam Talbot (57 saves) as the Stars evened their First Round series 2-2.

* Pavelski’s goal with 12 seconds remaining in regulation was the latest tying goal in Stars/North Stars postseason history. It marked the second time Dallas has benefited from a big goal late in regulation this series after Jamie Oleksiak scored the game winner with 40 seconds remaining in the third period of Game 2.

* Pavelski became the fourth different player to record a postseason hat trick with the franchise (and first since the club relocated to Dallas). He joined Minnesota forwards Dino Ciccarelli (Game 4 of 1981 SF & Game 3 of 1982 DSF), Steve Payne (Game 1 of 1981 PRLM) and Bob Brooke (Game 1 of 1989 DSF).

* Pavelski also became the 10th different player in NHL history to score a hat trick in the postseason at age 36 or older and first since 2002, when Brett Hull did so with Detroit.

* Pavelski scored his 51st, 52nd and 53rd career postseason goals (53-52—105 in 141 GP) to move into a tie with Jeremy Roenick (53-69—122 in 154 GP) for the third-most among U.S.-born players. Only Stars legend Mike Modano (58-88—146 in 176 GP) and Joe Mullen (60-46—106 in 143 GP) have more.

CRAWFORD’S 48-SAVE OUTING HELPS BLACKHAWKS STAVE OFF ELIMINATION
Alex DeBrincat scored one of three Chicago goals while Corey Crawford shined in a 48-save performance as the Blackhawks stifled the Golden Knights to earn their first win of the series and stave off elimination.

* Sunday’s contest marked the third time Crawford has made at least 40 saves when facing elimination (also Game 5 of 2016 R1 & Game 5 of 2014 CF). Tony Esposito (Game 3 of 1981 PRLM, Game 3 of 1975 PRLM & Game 4 of 1970 SF) is the only other Blackhawks goaltender to register three such outings since 1955-56.

* Additionally, his 48 saves were the third-most by a Blackhawks goaltender when facing elimination (since 1955-56). Esposito’s performances in Game 3 of 1975 Preliminary Round (52) and Game 4 of 1970 Semifinals (49) are the only higher totals.

* Crawford was one of three goaltenders to register at least 45 saves Sunday (also Cam Talbot: 57 w/ CGY & Jacob Markstrom: 46 w/ VAN). Overall, a netminder has recorded 45 or more saves in a game eight times this postseason – tied for the second highest single-playoff total since 1955-56 (also 2017, 1997, 1996 & 1994). The only playoff year with more: 2013 (10).

BARZAL SCORES IN OVERTIME AS ISLANDERS GO UP 3-0. . .
Mathew Barzalscored 4:28 into overtime to propel the Islanders to a 3-0 lead in their First Round series. Barzal (23 years, 82 days) became the fifth different New York player to score an overtime goal in the Stanley Cup Playoffs at age 23 or younger.

* The Islanders own a 3-0 lead in a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Playoffs series for the 11th time in franchise history. New York won each of the 10 previous series, including seven via four-game sweeps.

* The Islanders, who earned four consecutive wins versus the Penguins in the 2019 First Round, can sweep a best-of-seven series in consecutive postseasons for the second time in franchise history and first since a run of three straight years with at least one from 1981 to 1983.

* New York improved to 35-17 in 52 all-time postseason games which have required overtime (.673 W%), edging Tampa Bay (16-8; .667 W%) for the highest such win percentage by an NHL franchise.

. . . WHILE SCHENN’S OT GOAL GIVES BLUES FIRST WIN
After the two clubs traded second-period goals 37 seconds apart, Brayden Schenn netted his first career playoff overtime goal with 4:54 remaining in the extra frame to help the Blues earn their first win of the postseason. St. Louis trails Vancouver 2-1 in their First Round series.

* Sunday marked the second day of the 2020 postseason to feature three overtime games (also Aug. 7). Only two other playoff years in NHL history have featured multiple days with at least three overtime periods: 2012 (April 12 & April 14) and 1980 (April 8 & April 11).

HART EARNS FIRST CAREER PLAYOFF SHUTOUT AS FLYERS TAKE GAME 3
After giving up four goals on 26 shots in Game 2, Carter Hart (23 saves) rebounded in Game 3 to blank the Canadiens and help the Flyers take a 2-1 lead in their First Round series.

* Hart (22 years, 3 days) – who celebrated his 22nd birthday on August 13 – became the youngest Flyers goaltender to record a postseason shutout, eclipsing the previous mark held by Pete Peeters (22 years, 246). Additionally, only two goaltenders since 2010 have registered a playoff shutout at a younger age than Hart: Matt Murray (21, 332: Game 4 of 2016 R1) and John Gibson (20, 300: Game 4 of 2016 R2).

ICYMI: Flyers forward Oskar Lindblompracticed with the team Sunday for the first time since being diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a form of bone cancer, in December. Despite being welcomed back by his teammates with countless stick taps, there's no timetable for when the forward will return to play.

DID YOU KNOW?
Flames forward Tobias Rieder (1-0—1) became the first player in NHL history to score each of his first three career playoff goals while shorthanded (3-1—4 in 12 GP). He also became the seventh skater with three shorthanded goals in a single postseason.

* Sunday marks the sixth consecutive day that at least one shorthanded goal was scored. The 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs are tied for the second-longest stretch of consecutive days with at least one shorthanded goal (also: 6 from April 21-26, 1996). The longest streak is seven straight days: April 9-15, 2004 and April 18-24, 1992.

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