* Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin powered a second straight Stars comeback win in overtime as Dallas took a 2-1 series lead and spoiled Gabriel Landeskog’s return to the Colorado lineup.

* Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe both put up four-point performances in Game 2 as the Kings took a 2-0 series lead thanks to a second straight six-goal showing.

* The Capitals also skated to a 2-0 series lead ahead of four more series continuing Thursday, with coverage beginning with Game 2 of the Battle of Florida at 6:30 p.m. ET on TBS, Max TruTV, SN360 and TVAS2. Click here to read the April 24 edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates for notes on the four upcoming contests.

SEGUIN, BENN LEAD STARS TO COMEBACK WIN IN GAME 3, SPOIL LANDESKOG’S RETURN

The contest began with an emotional moment with his family in pre-game warmups and continued with a raucous ovation during player introductions as Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog returned to NHL action for the first time in 1,032 days, but it was Stars counterparts Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin that silenced Ball Arena after Dallas rallied from a third-period deficit for the second time in as many contests en route to an overtime victory and a 2-1 series lead.

 

* Seguin scored his second career overtime tally (also Game 6 of 2012 CQF w/ BOS) and did so two days after Colin Blackwell netted the winner in the extra frame in Game 2. The Stars, who won consecutive playoff games in overtime for the first time in franchise history, registered back-to-back third-period comeback wins in the postseason for the fourth time in Stars/North Stars history (also 2008: Game 2 & 3 of CSF, 2001: Game 5 & 6 of CQF, 1999: Game 3 & 4 of CQF).

* Benn, crucial to Dallas’ first playoff series with multiple third-period comeback wins since the 2008 Conference Semifinals (2 vs. SJS), scored his 28th career playoff goal to tie Dino Ciccarelli and Neal Broten for the fourth most in Stars/North Stars playoff history. It marked the fifth time he has netted a third-period tying tally in the postseason which equaled Joe Pavelski for the most in franchise history.

 

ANOTHER SIX-GOAL SHOWING PROPELS KINGS TO 2-0 SERIES LEAD

Adrian Kempe (2-2—4) and Anze Kopitar (1-3—4) each potted four points as the Kings scored six goals for the second time in as many games to start the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs and opened up a 2-0 lead in their First Round series against the Oilers. Los Angeles scored 12 goals through the first two games of a postseason for the second time in franchise history (also 12 in 1982).

The Kings, who also benefited from multiple power-play goals in each of the first two games of the series for the fifth time, featured multiple players each record at least four points in a playoff game for the fourth time in franchise history following Game 4 of the 1990 Division Semifinals (5), Game 2 of the 1992 Division Semifinals (2) and Game 1 of the 1982 Division Semifinals (2).

 

* Kopitar, who has notched both of his four-point games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Oilers (also 1-3—4 in Game 1 of the 2023 R1), became the fifth player in franchise history with multiple postseason games with four-plus points – trailing only Wayne Gretzky (6).

 

* Kempe (3-4—7 in 2 GP), with 1-2—3 in Game 1, became the first player in franchise history with back-to-back three-point games to start a playoff year and the first with seven points through the team’s first two postseason games – one point more than the next closest (Gretzky: 1-5—6 in 2 GP; 1990).

THOMPSON MAKES TIMELY SAVES IN CAPITALS COMEBACK VICTORY

Two goals exactly a minute apart from Connor McMichael (2-0—2) and Dylan Strome (1-0—1) allowed the Capitals to erase a one-goal deficit in the second period, while a 14-save third-period performance saw Logan Thompson make a number of timely stops – including a toe-save with less than five minutes remaining in regulation – to propel Washington to its first 2-0 series lead since the 2019 First Round. The series now shifts to Montreal, which will mark the first Stanley Cup Playoffs game at Bell Centre in front of a full crowd since the 2017 First Round.

* Thompson, one of six Stanley Cup winners on the Capitals roster, became the fourth goaltender to win each of his first two playoff games with the franchise. The others: Pete Peeters (3 GP in 1986), Michal Neuvirth (2 GP in 2011) and Bob Mason (2 GP in 1987).
* Game 2 saw the Capitals score two goals in a span of a minute during a playoff contest for the first time since Game 1 of the 2018 Stanley Cup Final (0:42 at VGK). It also marked their 26th comeback win during the regular season and playoffs combined, which is the most among all teams this season and is the franchise’s third-highest total behind 2015-16 (30), 2017-18 (27) and 2010-11 (27).
QUICK CLICKS

 

* Commanders quarterbacks throw footballs into crowd at Capitals game

* NBA’s Wizards, MLB’s Nationals show off Capitals version of City Edition jersey

* Chris Drury signs multi-year contract to remain general manager of Rangers

* Bruins ‘anticipate’ being playoff team next season

THURSDAY FEATURES ‘BATTLE OF FLORIDA’ PLUS THREE GAME 3s

The reigning champion Panthers look to take a 2-0 lead against the Lightning while the Senators, Wild and Blues head home for the first time in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Click here to read the April 24 edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates for notes ahead of each contest.

* The Senators and Blues are set to host playoff hockey for the first time since 2017 and 2022, respectively, as both clubs look to earn their first victory of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Ottawa’s last taste of postseason hockey at home came in Game 6 of the 2017 Conference Finals, when Craig Anderson made 45 saves to help the hosts stave off elimination against the eventual Stanley Cup-winning Penguins. Meanwhile, St. Louis plays host for the first time since falling to Colorado in Game 6 of the 2022 Second Round before the Avalanche also went on to win the Stanley Cup.

* Kirill Kaprizov (2-3—5 in 2 GP) and Matt Boldy (3-1—4 in 2 GP) have each notched multiple points in Minnesota’s first two contests and can become the first players in Wild history to start a postseason on a three-game multi-point streak. Kaprizov (12-5—17 in 21 GP) can also tie Marian Gaborik (22 GP) as the fastest player to record 20 career playoff points with Minnesota.

* Matthew Tkachuk made an immediate impact in his first appearance since the finale of the 4 Nations Face-Off as he tallied two goals and an assist to lead the Panthers to victory in Game 1. Tkachuk can become the first player in Panthers history to record multiple goals in the team’s first two games of a postseason and the second to post three points in each of those contests, following Ray Sheppard (Game 1 & 2 of 1996 CQF).