Pageau, Guentzel, Crosby named our 'Three Stars of the Night'

NEW YORK – UNB! Network NHL/hockey blog "The Neutral Zone" has named Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Jake Gentzel, and Sidney Crosby as their 'Three Stars of the Night' for all NHL Playoff games that took place on April 29, 2017.

FIRST STAR - JEAN-GABRIEL PAGEAU, F, OTTAWA SENATORS

Pageau scored his 4th goal of the game 2:54 into the second overtime to give the Senators a 2-0 series lead over the Rangers. Pageau is 2nd player in NHL history to score 4 goals in playoff game, w/ OT winner (also: Joffrey Lupul, 2006 CSF).

SECOND STAR - JAKE GUENTZEL, F, PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Guentzel (7 G in 7 GP) surpassed Bryan Rust (6 G in 23 GP in 2016) for most goals by a Penguins rookie in single postseason. Guentzel and Michel Briere (1970) are the only Penguins rookies in club history to score three game-winning goals in the playoffs. Guentzel is 3rd player since 1943-44 to score 7+ goals in first 7 playoff games, joining Maurice Richard (10) & Dino Ceccarelli (7).

THIRD STAR - SIDNEY CROSBY, F, PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Crosby (0-2—2) tallied his 52nd career multi-point playoff game to pass Mario Lemieux for most in Penguins history.

Nash, Guentzel, Pavelski named our 'Three Stars of the Night'

NEW YORK -- UNB! Network NHL/hockey blog "The Neutral Zone" has named Rick Nash, Jake Guentzel, and Joe Pavelski as their 'Three Stars of the Night' for all NHL Playoff games taking place on April 18, 2017.

FIRST STAR - RICK NASH, F, NEW YORK RANGERS
Nash scored the go-ahead goal at 4:28 of the second period as the Rangers evened their series at 2-2. Nash scored his second career game-winning goal in the postseason (also Game 2 of 2014 Conference Final at Montreal). Per the Elias Sports Bureau, Nash is 5th in Rangers playoff history with 2 career GWG vs. Montreal (Cook, Graves, MacGregor, Slowinski).

SECOND STAR - JAKE GUENTZEL, F, PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
Guentzel is first player with five goals in his first four career playoff games since Maurice Richard in 1944.

THIRD STAR - JOE PAVELSKI, F, SAN JOSE SHARKS
Pavelski scored 15 seconds into the contest to establish a Sharks record for fastest goal to begin a playoff game. Pavelski eclipsed the mark set by Dany Heatley in Game 1 of the 2011 Conference Quarterfinals vs. the Kings (0:28).

News & Notes: Jake Guentzel helps Penguins take 3-0 series lead

GUENTZEL COMPLETES HAT TRICK IN OT AS PENGUINS TAKE 3-0 LEAD

The Columbus Blue Jackets tied the game with 4:49 remaining in the third period, but Jake Guentzel completed his hat trick at 13:10 of overtime as the Pittsburgh Penguins won 5-4 and took a 3-0 lead in their best-of-7 Eastern Conference First Round playoff series. It's their first 3-0 series lead since they swept the Carolina Hurricanes in four games in the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals.

* Guentzel became the second NHL rookie with a hat trick in the postseason that included an overtime goal, following the Montreal Canadiens' Gerry Plamondon in Game 2 of the 1949 NHL Semifinals at the Detroit Red Wings, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The only other Penguins player at any stage of his career to accomplish the feat was Ron Francis against the New York Rangers in Game 4 of 1992 Patrick Division Final.

* Elias adds that Guentzel became the first Penguins rookie with a hat trick in the playoffs and fourth rookie in franchise history to score a postseason overtime goal, joining Michel Briere against the Oakland Seals in Game 4 of the 1970 NHL Quarterfinals, Jaromir Jagr against the New Jersey Devils in Game 2 of the 1991 Patrick Division Semifinals and Conor Sheary against the San Jose Sharks in Game 2 of 2016 Stanley Cup Final.

* Guentzel, who had 33 points (16 goals, 17 assists) in 40 games during the regular season, had his second straight winning goal as well as his second consecutive multipoint performance. He had a goal and an assist in Game 2.

SUNDAY'S RESULTS

Home Team in Caps

ST. LOUIS 3, Minnesota 1 - STL leads 3-0

Pittsburgh 5, COLUMBUS 4 (OT) - PIT leads 3-0

Montreal 3, NY RANGERS 1 - MTL leads 2-1

Edmonton 1, SAN JOSE 0 - EDM leads 2-1

DID YOU KNOW?

The Penguins overcame a 3-1 deficit before securing their victory in overtime.

* Elias notes that eight of the 20 games in the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs have seen the winning team overcome a deficit, including four multigoal comebacks.

* Six of the eight series in the first round have required overtime in at least one game, with road teams holding a 4-3 edge in those games.

ALLEN, SCHWARTZ GUIDE BLUES TO 3-0 SERIES LEAD OVER WILD

Jake Allen made 40 saves and Jaden Schwartz scored the winning goal for the second straight game as the St. Louis Blues took a 3-0 lead in their best-of-7 Western Conference First Round series against the Minnesota Wild. It's the first time the Blues have led a series 3-0 since sweeping the Dallas Stars in four games in the 2001 Western Conference Semifinals.

* Allen has turned aside 114 of 117 shots through three games, allowing one goal in all three victories for a 0.91 goals-against average and .974 save percentage. Elias notes that he became the first Blues goaltender to win the first three games of a playoff series while allowing no more than one goal in each game.

* The Blues have not trailed at any point during the series (197:48) and have held the lead for 103:51 of total playing time (52.5 percent).

OILERS, CANADIENS GRAB 2-1 SERIES LEADS ON THE ROAD

The Edmonton Oilers and Canadiens, who each lost Game 1 of their respective series at home, took 2-1 series leads via road wins:

* For the second straight game, Cam Talbot (23 saves) had a shutout and Zack Kassian scored the winning goal as the Oilers took a 2-1 series lead with a victory against the Sharks at SAP Center. Talbot became the second Oilers goaltender with a shutout in consecutive playoff games, joining Curtis Joseph, who did it against the Colorado Avalanche in Games 6-7 of 1998 Western Conference Quarterfinals. Kassian became the first Oilers player to score a game-winning goal in consecutive postseason games since Fernando Pisani against the Carolina Hurricanes in Games 5-6 of the 2006 Stanley Cup Final.

* Alexander Radulov (1-1-2), Shea Weber and Artturi Lehkonen each scored to help the Canadiens take a 2-1 series lead with a win against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Radulov, who scored in overtime in Game 2, had a highlight-reel, one-handed goal for his second straight multipoint performance. He has five points (two goals, three assists) in three games in the series.

* Elias notes that when teams are tied 1-1 in a best-of-7 Stanley Cup Playoffs series, the winner of Game 3 holds an all-time series record of 202-97 (67.6 percent).

LOOSE PUCKS

Blue Jackets forward Cam Atkinson (2-0-2) opened the scoring 11 seconds into the game to establish a franchise record for fastest goal to begin a playoff game, shattering the mark of 1:38 set by Boone Jenner against the Penguins in Game 3 of the 2014 Eastern Conference First Round. … Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin (1-2-3) had his 14th three-point NHL postseason game and leads the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs in scoring with six points (two goals, four assists) in three games. … Elias notes that Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (19 years, 271 days) became the youngest player in franchise history to score in the playoffs and youngest defenseman on any team to do so since the Devils' Adam Larsson (19 years, 170 days) against the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 2 of the 2012 Eastern Conference Semifinals. … Marc Andre-Fleury made 33 saves for his 56th NHL postseason win to tie Tom Barrasso for the most by a Penguins goaltender.

SNEAK PEEK AT MONDAY'S ACTION

All Times Eastern

Ottawa @ Boston, series tied 1-1 - 7 p.m. ET; SN, TVA Sports, CNBC, NESN

Washington @ Toronto, series tied 1-1 - 7 p.m. ET; CBC, TVA Sports 2, NBCSN, CSN-DC

Chicago @ Nashville, NSH leads 2-0 - 9:30 p.m. ET; SN1, TVA Sports, CNBC, FS-TN, CSN-CH

Anaheim @ Calgary, ANA leads 2-0 - 10 p.m. ET; CBC, TVA Sports 2, NBCSN, PRIME

- NHL Public Relations

Kassian, Guentzel, Allen named our 'Three Stars of the Night'

NEW YORK – UNB! Network NHL/hockey blog "The Neutral Zone" has named Zack Kassian, Jake Guentzel, and Jake Allen their 'Three Stars of the Night' for all NHL Playoff games taking place on April 17, 2017.

FIRST STAR - ZACK KASSIAN, F, EDMONTON OILERS

Kassian is the first Oilers player to score a GWG in consecutive playoff games since Fernando Pisani (2006 F vs. CAR).

SECOND STAR - JAKE GUENTZEL, F, PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Guentzel scored his third goal of the contest at 13:10 of overtime as the @penguins took a 3-0 series lead. Guentzel is 2nd rookie in Stanley Cup Playoffs history to score a hat trick which included an OT goal (G. Plamondon, Game 2 of 1949 SF).

THIRD STAR - JAKE ALLEN, G, ST. LOUIS BLUES

Allen has turned aside 114 of 117 shots through three games (0.91 GAA, .974 SV%).

Penguins Recall Jake Guentzel and Chad Ruhwedel

The Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled forward Jake Guentzel and defenseman Chad Ruhwedel from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League, it was announced today by executive vice president and general manager Jim Rutherford.

Defenseman Kris Letang has been placed on injured reserve.

Guentzel, 22, has been one of the top offensive threats in the AHL this season, leading the league with 21 goals and ranking second overall with 42 points in just 33 games. His plus-21 is second overall behind only teammate David Warsofsky.

The 5-foot-11, 180-pound Guentzel played in five games with Pittsburgh earlier this year, netting three goals and four points. Since he was returned to WBS, Guentzel has points in 14 of 17 games, totaling 14 goals, 11 assists, 25 points and a hat trick against Springfield on Dec. 27.

Guentzel was tabbed alongside goaltender Tristan Jarry to participate in the AHL All-Star Classic on Jan. 29-30 at Lehigh Valley.

Ruhwedel, 26, has skated in five NHL games with Pittsburgh this year, tallying two points (1G-1A) and a plus-3. He scored his first NHL goal on Dec. 23 versus New Jersey.

At the AHL level, the 5-foot-11, 191-pound defender has four goals, 12 assists and 16 points in 28 contests.

- Florida Panthers