- Pastrnak awakes, scores twice as Boston even series 2-2
- Roope Hintz scores a brace as Stars make it rain on Predators to even series 2-2
- Mikko. Rantanen. Two goals, one to tie the game late in the third, a second to win it in overtime and give Colorado a 3-1 series edge
Bruins 6, Maple Leafs 4 (Series tied 2-2)
The Bruins responded, just as they did in Game 2. David Pastrnak scored twice and Zdeno Chara became the second oldest defenseman in the NHL to score a playoff goal, one that stood as the game-winner as a 5-2 lead evaporated late for the Bruins. This series shifts back to Boston now.
Stars 5, Predators 1 (Series tied 2-2)
Four goals were scored in the opening 13:45 of the first period. Dallas, of course, scored all of them and Pekka Rinne’s night was done early. That’s the story of this one as the Stars won the game in the first period and held the Predators at bay for the rest of the night.
Avalanche 3, Flames 2 (Colorado leads 3-1)
A wild third-period comeback. A wild overtime. One hell of a save. One hell of a penalty kill. And one epic comeback.
All these things converged to give the Avs a commanding 3-1 series lead on the best team in the Western Conference during the regular season. Mikko Rantanen starred, scoring the tying goal in the third period late and then converting in overtime.
Three stars
1. Mikko Rantanen, Colorado Avalanche
What can you say about the young Finn that hasn’t been said already?
A game-tying goal on the power play with 2:50 to go in the third period off an incredible pass from Nathan MacKinnon, and then an overtime winner to push Calgary to the brink of elimination.
2. David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins
‘Pasta’ picked a good game to start cooking with the sauce. He grabbed his first two goals of the series to put the Bruins up 4-2, and they held on to a 6-2 win to even the best-of-7 series 2-2.
3. Roope Hintz, Dallas Stars
Like Pastrnak, Hintz, too, had a brace, scoring his first and second goals of the series as the Stars dropped the Preds 5-1.
Hintz nearly had a hat trick, but his shorthanded attempt rung off the iron.
Highlights of the night
Pastrnak show:
Grubauer with an epic save in OT:
Factoids
- Old man Chara still doing things, like becoming the second oldest d-man to score a playoff goal. (NHL PR)
- Pekka Rinne was pulled from a playoff game for the 10th time in his career. (Sportsnet Stats)
- Calgary has never won a playoff series where they’ve trailed 3-1. (Sportsnet Stats)
Thursday’s Games
Game 4: Capitals at Hurricanes (WSH leads 2-1), 7 p.m. ET, NBCSN (Live Stream)
Game 5: Blues at Jets (Series tied 2-2) 8:30 p.m. ET; USA, (Live stream)
Game 5: Golden Knights at Sharks (Vegas leads 3-1), 10 p.m. ET; NBCSN (Live stream)
Scott Billeck is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @scottbilleck