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Playoffs Today: Kings return home down 2-0

Jonathan Quick

ST. LOUIS, MO - MAY 2: Jonathan Quick #32 of the Los Angeles Kings reacts to giving up the game-winning goal against the St. Louis Blues in Game Two of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Scottrade Center on May 2, 2013 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Blues beat the Kings 2-1. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

We got a full lineup of playoff action for today, including a critical Game 3 for the defending Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings.

All of the games can be watched on NBC Sports Live Extra in addition to the channels mentioned below.

Game 2: Washington Capitals host New York Rangers (12:30 p.m. ET, NBC)
Capitals lead series 1-0

Since the start of April, the Capitals have only lost two games and the Rangers weren’t able to derail that momentum in Game 1.

Alex Ovechkin has 23 goals in 22 games dating back to the regular season after beating Rangers netminder Henrik Lundqvist on Thursday. Marcus Johansson and Jason Chimera accounted for the Capitals’ other two goals while Washington goaltender Braden Holtby picked up right where he left off in the 2012 playoffs.

Rangers coach John Tortorella and captain Ryan Callahan are both looking for their team to play a more disciplined game this afternoon. Staying out of the sin bin was something New York did exceptionally well in the regular season, but they committed five minor penalties and were called for too many men on ice in Game 1.

Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick will be the play-by-play commentator for NBC and he will be joined by Eddie Olczyk and Pierre McGuire.

Game 2: Boston Bruins host Toronto Maple Leafs (7:00 p.m. ET, CNBC)
Bruins lead series 1-0

The Toronto Maple Leafs’ first playoff game since 2004 didn’t go particularly well for them. “We self-destructed,” Maple Leafs coach Randy Carlyle summarized after Wednesday’s 4-1 loss.

The Maple Leafs actually found the back of the net first, but the Bruins outshot the Maple Leafs by a 2-1 margin, with Toronto goaltender James Reimer stopping 36 of 40 shots.

“Sometimes you have to flush it,” Reimer said of the game, according to the Toronto Star.

The Boston Bruins will compete without defenseman Andrew Ference, who will serve his one-game suspension for elbowing forward Mikhail Grabovski.

Russ Thaler and Anson Carter will be CNBC’s hosts for this game.

Game 3: Detroit Red Wings host Anaheim Ducks (7:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN)
Series tied at 1-1

Detroit coughed up a three-goal lead in Game 2 on Thursday, but still managed to net a power-play goal in overtime. As a result, the Ducks have surrendered their home ice advantage in this series.

“We can’t keep taking penalties, because their power play was good for them tonight like it was for us in Game 1,” said captain Ryan Getzlaf. “It was tough being shorthanded.”

Very tough apparently, as evidenced by the fact that Detroit has converted on 40% of its power-play opportunities through this early stage of the postseason. On a more negative note for Detroit, rookie defenseman Danny DeKeyser suffered a broken thumb and is likely done for the playoffs. Brian Lashoff is expected to take his place on the Red Wings’ blueline.

Joe Micheletti will provide analysis for the game for NBCSN while Rick Peckham is will be the play-by-play commentator.

Game 3: Los Angeles Kings host St. Louis Blues (10:00 p.m. ET, NBCSN
Blues lead series 2-0

Los Angeles Kings head coach Darryl Sutter doesn’t think a 2-0 deficit is the “end of the world,” but it’s fair to say that this is a critical game for the Kings.

Los Angeles has scored just two goals in two games and Kings forward Jeff Carter has no playoff points after netting 26 goals in the regular season.

If there’s a silver lining for the Kings, it’s that they were 19-4-1 at home this season, so perhaps moving the series to the Staples Center will help the Kings rebound. If they want to win this series, at some point they’ll need to win a game on the road, but obviously they can’t afford to think that far ahead right now.

John Forslund will be the game’s play-by-play guy and will be joined by Daryl Reaugh.