THREE HARD LAPS
* The Jets won the first triple-overtime game of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs – the longest game in franchise history – to complete their first-ever sweep. Winnipeg became the third team to reach the 2021 Second Round.
* More than one-third of contests so far this postseason have required extra time, with 12 overtime games through 35 games played (34%). Only seven rounds in NHL history have featured more such contests.
* Goaltenders Spencer Knight and Cam Talbot stood tall on Monday to help the Panthers and Wild extend their respective series to a Game 6.
JETS WIN LONGEST GAME IN FRANCHISE HISTORY, COMPLETE FIRST-EVER SWEEP
The Jets and Oilers required overtime for a third straight game and second straight day, this time extending to three extra periods before Winnipeg’s Kyle Connor scored after 106:52 of action. The Jets won the longest game in franchise history to complete the first sweep ever by the club and reach the Second Round for the second time (also 2018).
* Winnipeg will next face either Toronto or Montreal in what will be the first-ever Stanley Cup Playoffs series between the two cities (including both iterations of the Winnipeg Jets).
* Winnipeg became the fifth club to sweep the team with the Art Ross Trophy winner (since the award was introduced in 1947-48), following Columbus (2019 R1 vs. TBL), Edmonton (1990 DF vs. LAK), NY Islanders (1983 SCF vs. EDM) and Montreal (1960 SF vs. CHI).
OVERTIME TREND CONTINUES IN 2021 FIRST ROUND
Eight of 10 days so far this postseason have seen at least one overtime game, with a total of 12 overtime games through 35 contests in the 2021 First Round (34%).
* The 2021 First Round (5) marks the second round in NHL history to feature five or more games that required multiple overtime periods (also 2003 Conference Quarterfinals: 6).
* Monday was the fifth day in NHL history to include two or more games that required multiple overtime periods (also April 20, 2011, April 11, 2007, April 14, 2003 and May 12, 1998 – all with two).
KNIGHT BECOMES YOUNGEST GOALIE TO DEBUT WITH WIN IN ELIMINATION GAME
After allowing a goal on the first shot he faced just 53 seconds into his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut, 20-year-old Panthers goaltender Spencer Knight stopped each of the next 36 shots he faced to stifle Tampa Bay and help Florida stave off elimination.
* Knight (20 years, 35 days) became the youngest goaltender in NHL history to make his playoffs debut with his team facing elimination (and also the youngest to win that contest). Overall, the Darien, Conn., native is the second-youngest netminder to win in his first-ever appearance at any point in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
* Knight’s success in Game 5 came on the heels of a regular season in which he became the youngest goaltender in NHL history to start his career with a 4-0-0 record. Knight also made his mark before entering the NHL – after guiding the United States to a gold medal at the 2021 World Junior Championship, Knight was named a Hobey Baker Award finalist after backing Boston College to a 2020-21 regular-season championship, claiming Hockey East Goaltender of the Year and Player of the Year honors in the process.
* Florida became the first team in more than 18 years to allow a goal in the opening minute of a game in which it faced elimination, and then rally to win – the Canucks (Game 7 of 2003 CQF) were the last club to do so before the Panthers.
SOROKIN SHINES AS ISLANDERS EDGE PENGUINS IN DOUBLE OVERTIME
Josh Bailey scored 51 seconds into double overtime and Ilya Sorokin (48 saves) established a franchise rookie record for saves in a playoff game as the Islanders took a 3-2 series lead over the Penguins – moving within one win of the Second Round. Sorokin became the sixth NHL goaltender in the past 27 years to win each of his first three career playoff games (and first ever to do so with the Islanders).
* Kelly Hrudey (73 saves in Game 7 of 1987 DSF) is the only Islanders goaltender with more saves in a playoff game than Sorokin – who became the ninth rookie goaltender in the past 30 years, and second this postseason, to record at least 48 saves in a playoff game.
TALBOT HELPS WILD STAVE OFF ELIMINATION IN GAME 5
Jordan Greenway scored his first career game-winning goal in the postseason and Cam Talbot made 38 saves as Minnesota defeated Vegas to force a Game 6 on Wednesday. Talbot’s outing marked the second-most saves by a Wild goaltender when facing elimination, behind only Manny Fernandez (43) in Game 7 of the 2003 Conference Quarterfinals.
NYLANDER, RIELLY GUIDE MAPLE LEAFS PAST CANADIENS IN GAME 3
William Nylander opened the scoring and Morgan Rielly netted the game-winning goal as Toronto took a 2-1 series lead over Montreal. Rielly became the second Maple Leafs defenseman to score a game-winning goal against Montreal in the playoffs, joining Bill Barilko, who netted the Stanley Cup-clinching goal in Game 5 of the 1951 Stanley Cup Final.
* Nylander enters tonight’s action with a three-game goal streak in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in his career. Should he find the back of the net in Game 4, he would become just the fifth different Maple Leafs player in the NHL’s expansion era (since 1967-68) with a four-game goal streak in the postseason.
HURRICANES HOPE HOME ICE ADVANTAGE CONTINUES FOR GAME 5
A pivotal Game 5 goes tonight at PNC Arena in Raleigh between the Predators and Hurricanes, while in Montreal the Maple Leafs and Canadiens will battle for a second straight day with the host looking to even the series at 2-2.
* The home team has won each of the first four games between the Predators and Hurricanes, with Carolina returning to a building that welcomed 12,000 fans to watch them win Games 1 and 2. Carolina also was involved in the last series to have the home team win each of the first four contests – that happened in the first six games of the 2019 First Round against the Capitals before the Hurricanes snapped the streak with a Game 7 victory in D.C.
COURTESY NHLmedia.com
