Three of the four series that play their Game 3s on Friday enter tied. Only the Carolina Hurricanes managed to win both games at home as the Islanders face a must-win game Friday night at home to avoid going down 3-0.
Florida made it a series with Boston by picking up a big 6-3 win on Wednesday night. There’s now a concern for the Bruins with Patrice Bergeron injured and missing the first two games of the playoffs.
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The Oilers and Stars both evened their series after dropping Game 1 at home.
During the Stanley Cup playoffs, The Athletic’s writers will make their straight-up picks. You’ll find picks, coverage and the latest odds here. Our in-depth NHL coverage is linked below the picks.
All odds from BetMGM and update live.
Game 3 – Hurricanes at Islanders
Carolina leads 2-0
7 p.m. on TBS, SN1
Carolina needed overtime, but Jesper Fast scored the game-winning goal and Carolina held serve and won the first two games at home. But it’ll be without forward Teuvo Teravainen for the remainder of the series after he suffered a broken hand in Game 2 on an unpenalized slash late in the third period. The Hurricanes are already missing forwards Andrei Svechnikov and Max Pacioretty with season-ending lower-body injuries.
The Islanders played a much better game in Game 2, generating 65.22 percent of expected goals, according to Natural Stat Trick, and they hope that can carry over to Games 3 and 4 at home. Ilya Sorokin gave up three goals on 27 shots and needed to be better for New York to climb back into this series.
Game 3 – Bruins at Panthers
Series tied 1-1
7:30 p.m. on TNT, SN, CBC
Hello, Florida Panthers. They’re in this first-round series after scoring four straight goals in the third period to make it 1-1. Goalie Alex Lyon made 34 saves and it seems he will be the No. 1 goalie for the rest of these playoffs.
The Athletic’s Steve Buckley called it a lethargic performance from the Bruins. Bergeron’s absence makes this series a lot more interesting, and Game 3 is vital for the record-breaking Bruins to show their dominance on the road and reclaim momentum.
Game 3 – Stars at Wild
Series tied 1-1
9:30 p.m. on TBS, SN1
For some reason, the Wild started Marc-Andre Fleury in net instead of Filip Gustavsson after he made 51 saves in a Game 1 win. And the result was predictable. The Stars scored seven goals on 31 shots and easily won Game 2 to tie the series. Goodbye, momentum for the Wild.
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The Wild have been rotating goalies for the last part of the season, so it wasn’t a huge surprise to see Fleury, but why bench Gustavsson when you have the series lead, and he put on a show in Game 1? According to Natural Stat Trick, Fleury gave up 3.84 goals above expected for the game. Ouch.
Game 3 – Oilers at Kings
Series tied 1-1
10 p.m. on TNT, SN, CBC
Oilers fans had to be worried again after the team blew a two-goal lead in Game 2 before holding off the Kings and winning 4-2. Goalie Stuart Skinner had a good game making 23 of 25 saves, and Leon Draisaitl had a goal and two assists in the win. Connor McDavid added an assist after being held pointless in Game 1.
Playoff power play Drai 😤 pic.twitter.com/H5TXxsrDcE — Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) April 20, 2023
Now, the series shifts to Los Angeles. Our experts seem to think the Oilers found their game, and four of six experts pick them to win Game 3 and take a 2-1 series lead.
More on the NHL Playoffs
Smith: The Wild’s stubborn goalie decision proves costly. Will it swing the series?
How valuable is home ice in the NHL playoffs? Is it less advantageous now than in the past?
NHL Playoffs Schedule and Bracket: Start-time, channel and first-round matchup previews
(Top photo: John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images))