Hockey

Series highlights: Oilers and Devils close the gap in their respective series
Mathis Therrien
Series highlights: Oilers and Devils close the gap in their respective series
Credit: The first round of the NHL playoffs continued in earnest last night, with three series featuring Game #3. Of course, as you all know, one of those games was the Montreal Canadiens’ stunning 6-3 victory over the Washington Capitals, in a game that went absolutely crazy. And now, here’s what we remember from game #3 […]

The first round of the NHL playoffs continued in earnest last night, with three series featuring Game #3.

Of course, as you all know, one of those games was the Montreal Canadiens' stunning 6-3 victory over the Washington Capitals, in a game that went absolutely crazy.

And now, here's what we remember from game #3 of the other two series.

Oilers find room to breathe

After losing the first two games of the series in Los Angeles, the Oilers simply had no choice but to bounce back at home in Game #3.

The Stanley Cup finalists simply couldn't afford to fall behind 0-3 in the series.

For this game, the Oilers opted for a change of goaltender, sending Calvin Pickard into the fray in place of Stuart Skinner, who had been very ordinary in the first two games of the series.

Unfortunately for the Oilers, Pickard wasn't that much better, but fortunately it didn't cost the Oilers the game.

It was a crazy game, with both teams taking the lead at different times.

The Oilers took a quick 2-0 lead in the first period thanks to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Evan Bouchard, but Adrian Kempe closed the gap before the first intermission.

Kempe is on a roll with nine points, including four goals, in three games. He's really a playoff guy.

Then, in the second period, the Kings took advantage of the power play to take the lead in the game thanks to Kevin Fiala and Drew Doughty.

A few minutes later, Connor Brown tied the game, but it only lasted nine seconds, as Trevor Moore scored a superb one-handed goal as soon as play resumed.

The Oilers went into the locker room trailing 4-3.

Fortunately, Kris Knoblauch's team came back strong in the third period, as they played the same trick on the Kings with two goals in ten seconds.

Evander Kane scored his first of the playoffs, a goal that was unsuccessfully challenged by the Kings, allowing the Oilers to go on the power play, and once again, Evan Bouchard wasted no time.

Edmonton didn't look back after that goal, and confirmed its victory with two goals in an empty net, courtesy of Connor McDavid and Connor Brown.

The Oilers thus win Game #3 and close the gap in the series.

Game #4 takes place in Edmonton on Sunday at 9:30pm.

The Kings lead the series 2-1.

Simon Nemec gives Devils overtime win

Here's another series in which the team with the class advantage had a 2-0 lead after its two home games.

The Carolina Hurricanes have won two big games at home, and yesterday they were looking to push the New Jersey Devils to the brink.

It was in the Devils' interest to take the lead in this game, and they did just that, thanks to goals from Nico Hischier and Dawson Mercer.

However, the Hurricanes weren't beaten by a two-goal deficit.

The Hurricanes scored two third-period power-play goals from Seth Jarvis and Sebastian Aho to tie the game.

The game went into overtime, where the Devils were simply dominant.

The Devils attacked from everywhere and accumulated excellent scoring chances, but couldn't seal the deal.

It wasn't until the second period of overtime that the Devils finally capitalized on one of their thousand scoring chances.

It was 21-year-old defenseman Simon Nemec who gave the Devils victory with a superb goal.

Nemec became the youngest player in Devils history to score an overtime winner in the playoffs.

In short, the Devils badly needed this win, and now they're back in the series.

Game #4 takes place Sunday at 3:30 p.m. in New Jersey.

The Hurricanes lead the series 2-1.


Overtime

– Here are yesterday's results.

– Here are yesterday's top scorers.

(Credit: NHL.com)

– On the program today: three games #4 and one game #3.

(Credit: Google/NHL)
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