The Washington Capitals and Vegas Golden Knights find themselves in similar predicaments, both trailing 2-1 in their respective series heading into crucial road games on Monday.
Tonight`s schedule features the Capitals taking on the Carolina Hurricanes, followed by the Golden Knights facing the Edmonton Oilers.
Below are previews for these matchups, including statistical insights, a recap of Sunday`s games, and the Three Stars of the day.
- Matchup Previews
- Washington Capitals vs. Carolina Hurricanes
- Vegas Golden Knights vs. Edmonton Oilers
- Sunday`s Three Stars
- 1. The Florida Panthers
- 2. Mikko Rantanen, Right Wing, Dallas Stars
- 3. Sergei Bobrovsky, Goaltender, Florida Panthers
- Sunday`s Game Recaps
- Dallas Stars 5, Winnipeg Jets 2
- Florida Panthers 2, Toronto Maple Leafs 0
Matchup Previews
Washington Capitals vs. Carolina Hurricanes
Series: Carolina leads 2-1 | Game 4
Holding a 2-1 series lead, Carolina is now considered a strong favorite to advance. The Hurricanes have also climbed in the Stanley Cup futures odds, while Washington`s chances have lessened.
This is the second consecutive series where Carolina has led 2-1 (they defeated New Jersey 4-1 in the first round). Historically, the Carolina/Hartford franchise holds a 9-4 record in best-of-seven series when leading 2-1.
Game 3 marked Carolina`s first playoff shutout victory since Game 2 of the 2022 second round against the Rangers. For Washington, it was their first time being shut out in the playoffs since Game 5 of the 2020 first round against the Islanders.
Frederik Andersen`s shutout was the fourth of his playoff career, but his first as a Hurricane. He joins Cam Talbot as the only active goalies with playoff shutouts for three different franchises.
Andrei Svechnikov has scored six goals this postseason, marking the 17th time a Hurricanes/Whalers player has reached the six-goal mark in a single playoff run.
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Edmonton Oilers
Series: Edmonton leads 2-1 | Game 4
The series odds shifted after Vegas` win in Game 3. Edmonton is now the favorite to win the series, while Vegas faces longer odds. Edmonton ranks third among Cup contenders, with Vegas further down the list.
Logan Thompson allowed four goals in Game 3, more than his combined total in the first two games, and the most since Game 3 of the first round against Montreal.
Reilly Smith of Vegas scored the winning goal in Game 3 with 0.4 seconds remaining, the puck deflecting in off Leon Draisaitl`s stick. The goal is officially recorded as scored with one second left in the third period, tying it for one of the latest game-winning goals in regulation in Stanley Cup playoff history (alongside Colorado`s Nazem Kadri in 2020 and Carolina`s Jussi Jokinen in 2009).
Jack Eichel enters Game 4 on an active six-game assist streak, which ties the Golden Knights` playoff record. Mark Stone (2023) and Smith (2018) also achieved this feat.
Connor McDavid has reached 40 career playoff goals, becoming the seventh Oilers player to hit that milestone.
Corey Perry of Edmonton scored two goals in the first period of Game 3, becoming the third-oldest player in Stanley Cup playoff history with a multi-goal period; at 39 years, 359 days old, he trails only Nicklas Lidstrom (41) and Teemu Selanne (40) at the time they had multi-goal playoff periods.
Sunday`s Three Stars
1. The Florida Panthers
The reigning Stanley Cup champions played arguably their best game of the postseason. They limited the Maple Leafs to just 22 shots, controlled the neutral zone, and peppered Toronto`s Joseph Woll with 37 shots en route to a 2-0 victory.
2. Mikko Rantanen, Right Wing, Dallas Stars
With a goal and two assists in Game 3, Rantanen became the first player in Stanley Cup playoff history with five three-point games within a team`s first 10 contests.
3. Sergei Bobrovsky, Goaltender, Florida Panthers
Bobrovsky didn`t face a barrage of shots, but he stopped all 22 for his fifth career playoff shutout.
Sunday`s Game Recaps
Dallas Stars 5, Winnipeg Jets 2
Dallas leads series 2-1
The Stars returned home having secured home-ice advantage by splitting the first two games in Winnipeg. From the start of Game 3, they showed no intention of giving it back. Dallas` Roope Hintz opened the scoring on the power play just 2:27 in. While Kyle Connor tied it midway through the first, Thomas Harley quickly responded, giving Dallas a 2-1 lead after one. Nino Niederreiter scored his fourth playoff goal to knot the game at two, but the third period belonged entirely to the Stars. Alexander Petrovic and Mikko Rantanen scored within 50 seconds of each other, and Wyatt Johnston sealed the win with a goal at 14:06.
Florida Panthers 2, Toronto Maple Leafs 0
Series tied 2-2
The battle for the Atlantic Division crown is now a best-of-three. Carter Verhaeghe opened the scoring for the Panthers at 15:45 of the first, and the 1-0 score held until 12:09 of the third when Sam Bennett added his fifth of the postseason to make it 2-0. That was more than enough support for Sergei Bobrovsky, who stopped all 23 shots faced. Joseph Woll was also solid for the Leafs, saving 35 of 37. Tempers flared late in the game after Toronto`s Max Domi boarded Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov, leading to a scrum. Will this intensity carry into Game 5?
