3 years agoEdmonton Oilers goaltender Mike Smith saved 32 of 33 shots as the team jumped to a 2-1 series lead against Calgary with a 4-1 win on Sunday. The veteran netminder appeared to have gotten injured in the middle of the third period when Smith exited the game after Milan Lucic crashed into him, but he was back a few minutes later to finish the game. Mikko Koskinen didn't have any shots to save in 4:15 of action. Smith started the series with a horrible performance as he allowed three goals on 10 shots in six minutes in Game 1, but he's bounced back in style, recording a 0.945 save percentage across the last two games. He's now 6-3 for the playoffs with a 2.55 goals-against average, a .933 save percentage and two shutouts.--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

3 years agoEdmonton Oilers forward Evander Kane finished with three goals in Sunday's 4-1 victory in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Flames. The forward trio of Kane, McDavid and Draisaitl took over in the second period as they dominated offensively to help the Oilers take a 2-1 series lead. Kane recorded the seventh-fastest hat trick in NHL playoff history, and the three goal night brings his total to 10 goals and 13 points through 10 games in the 2022 NHL playoffs.--Denis Vondrus - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com

3 years agoEdmonton Oilers forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl put on an impressive display of playmaking in Sunday's 4-1 victory in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Flames. The two stars did all their damage during a six-minute span in the second period as Draisaitl finished with four assists and McDavid added three assists in the dominant stretch of offensive production. Evander Kane's natural hat trick helped the Oilers take a 2-1 series lead, and they will look to extend that advantage in Game 4 on Tuesday night.--Denis Vondrus - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com

3 years agoCalgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom continued to struggle as he allowed four goals on 34 shots through two periods in Sunday's 4-1 loss in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Oilers. After a very productive seven-game series in the opening round against the Stars, Markstrom has now allowed 15 goals through three games in the second round series against the Oilers. The Flames starter was taken out of the crease for the final frame as backup goaltender Daniel Vladar stepped in and made seven saves in the relief appearance. Markstrom will try to bounce back in Game 4 on Tuesday night, with the Oilers leading 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.--Denis Vondrus - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com

3 years agoDefenseman Mark Giordano has signed a two-year, $1.6 million contract with the Maple Leafs on Sunday. The deal has an average annual value of $800,000, as the 38-year-old blueliner could have become an unrestricted free agent in July. Giordano was traded to the Maple Leafs ahead of the NHL trade deadline in March, and the veteran defenseman contributed two goals, 10 assists, and a plus-12 rating in 20 regular season games on the contending club. In the first round series of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Lightning, Giordano recorded two assists through seven games. Giordano is no longer the fantasy contributor which he once was during his time with the Flames, but the former Norris Trophy winner can provide value in deeper formats as a member of the Maple Leafs for the upcoming season.--Denis Vondrus - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com

3 years agoNew York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin stopped 43-of-44 shots on goal in Sunday's 3-1 victory in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Hurricanes. The Rangers continued their strong play on home ice during the playoffs as they cut the series deficit down to 2-1. Rangers forwards Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider each scored a goal in the opening two periods, while Tyler Motte added an empty-net goal with under two minutes remaining in the game. Shesterkin and the Rangers will try to repeat the performance in order to even up the best-of-seven series in Game 4 on Tuesday night. --Denis Vondrus - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com

3 years agoSt. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (lower body) has been ruled out for the rest of the second-round series against the Avalanche. He got hurt early in Saturday's Game 3 during a collision with Blues defenseman Calle Rosen and Avalanche center Nazem Kadri. According to reports, Binnington is dealing with a knee injury, so things are looking pretty bleak for the 2019 Stanley Cup champions. Binnington was playing superbly before getting injured and finishes the series with only four goals allowed on 88 shots. Ville Husso is set to return to the Blues crease. He had a strong 25-7-6 record during the regular season and started the playoffs with a nice 37-save shutout against Minnesota, but the Finnish netminder went on to have a couple of a very rough nights before Binnington replaced him and Husso didn't do well on Saturday either, coughing up four goals on 23 shots.--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

3 years agoTampa Bay Lightning forward Steven Stamkos came through with two goals as the team picked apart Florida 5-1 on Sunday to take a 3-0 series lead in the second round. Stammer fired in his third goal of the playoffs in the middle of the second period and completed his two-goal effort with an empty-netter 2:09 from the end of regulation. Tampa's captain now has four points in the series and eight points in total for the playoffs. The defending champions are playing without Brayden Point (lower body), but they are still making things look very easy and will have a chance to lock up a Conference Finals spot already on Monday.--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

3 years agoTampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov produced a huge four-point performance in Sunday's Game 3 victory over Florida. He scored his fourth goal of the playoffs and registered three assists as Tampa jumped to a 3-0 series lead with a comfortable 5-1 win. This marks the fourth four-point effort in the playoffs for Kucherov and not a single active player has managed more such games during the postseason. The former MVP now also sits on 19 career postseason games with at least three points and only five skaters in history have recorded more three-point games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

3 years agoSt. Louis Blues center Ryan O'Reilly picked up a goal and an assist in Saturday's Game 3 loss to Colorado, extending his point streak to a playoff career-high seven games. He also tied the franchise record for the longest postseason-opening home goal streak, scoring in St. Louis' fourth home game of the playoffs. O'Reilly has been a beast throughout the playoffs with 12 points and has been held pointless just once in nine games. This is a special series for him against the team that drafted him, so O'Reilly should have all the motivation in the world to keep up his great production.--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

3 years agoSt. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington suffered a lower-body injury early in Game 3 against Colorado on Saturday. He got injured with 6:45 played in the first period when teammate Calle Rosen and Colorado's forward Nazem Kadri fell into him. Binnington received treatment on the ice and seemed good to go at first but then appeared to have felt something in his left leg. Ville Husso came in to replace him and allowed four goals on 23 shots in an eventual 5-2 loss. St. Louis will be very disappointed if Binnington is forced to miss any games because he's been in superb form with a 4-1 record in the playoffs. Husso had the stronger regular season, but he's gone an awful 1-3 during the postseason with a 3.38 goals-against average and a .891 save percentage.--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: St. Louis Blues

3 years agoColorado Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard broke his sternum in Saturday's Game 3 win over St. Louis and will miss the rest of the playoffs. The versatile blue-liner managed to soak in just 56 seconds of action before getting hurt on a check by Ivan Barbashev. Girard was taken to straight to a hospital, and Colorado's first defensive pairing of Cale Makar and Devon Toews ended up logging huge minutes. Colorado has lost a big piece, as Girard has been a valuable piece all over the ice during the playoffs with three points, 16 blocks and six hits. He's played over 21 minutes on most nights, and head coach Jared Bednar now has to figure out how to resume the proceedings with one of his top defensemen missing.--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

3 years agoColorado Avalanche winger Artturi Lehkonen had his best game of the playoffs on Saturday against St. Louis, scoring twice in a 5-2 victory. He ended up with the game-winning goal and also grabbed an empty-netter inside the final minute of play. This is Lehkonen's first career multi-goal game in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Finnish winger has tallied a total of four goals with no assists in seven playoff appearances this season. He also led the team with five shots on Saturday and has managed 14 efforts on goal throughout the postseason.--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

3 years agoFlorida Panthers winger Mason Marchment (lower body) likely won't play in Game 3 and Game 4 against Tampa Bay. He has already sat out four games. The 26-year-old also missed 28 games during the regular season, so he hasn't had good luck with injuries in 2021-22. Marchment was very impressive during the regular season with 18 goals and 47 points. He recorded one goal and zero assists in four playoffs appearances before dropping out of the lineup. A potential Game 5 in the series is scheduled for Wednesday and that would be Marchment's next chance to return.--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Jameson Olive

3 years agoTampa Bay Lightning winger Brandon Hagel missed Saturday's practice but is expected to be in the lineup on Sunday in Game 3 against Florida. The 23-year-old is a bit banged up and received a maintenance day on Saturday. Hagel has yet to register a point in the series against the Panthers, but he played a pretty big part in taking down Toronto in the opening round with four points. He skates on the third line with Corey Perry and Ross Colton, who have been the team's best scorers so far in the playoffs with four and five goals, respectively.--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Joe Smith