Three Stars: Caps’ Ovechkin has record-setting night
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Day Six of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs brought even more excitement with three more games on the docket. The Capitals routed the Flyers to take a commanding 3-0 series lead, while the Wild came alive in a win at home over the Stars halve their deficit. In San Jose, the Kings took a game back from their hosts after losing two to the Sharks in Los Angeles to open their series.
Here's three players who stood out amongst all the action on Monday night:
Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
Capitals overpower Flyers in Game 3 blowout
The Caps moved to within one win of the first four-game sweep in franchise history on the strength of a record-setting night from their captain.
Ovechkin came into Game 3 with 71 points (37 goals, 34 assists) in 74 career playoff contests, trailing Dale Hunter by one for the team record. He scored once in the second period to equal Hunter's mark, then added an assist on John Carlson’s power-play tally midway through the third to assume sole possession of the No. 1 spot. He added a power-play goal of his own seven minutes later to finish off his three-point night.
Equally impressive: Ovechkin attempted an astounding 18 shots. Five went on net, nine were blocked and four missed the target.
Jason Pominville, Minnesota Wild
Backs against wall, Wild rally to top Stars in Game 3
A ghost through the first two games of the series, Pominville was one of a large group of standouts whose efforts brought the Wild back from the brink of elimination in their pivotal Game 3 against the Stars. The speedy winger took advantage of a turnover generated by Nino Niederreiter to set up the second period goal that knotted the game at two, then gave the Wild their first lead of the series when he crashed the net and cashed in a rebound in the final minute of the frame. He later added an empty netter to seal a 5-3 win after forcing another Stars turnover with an aggressive forecheck. Pominville ended the night with five shots on net and a +8 shot differential, both team highs.
Tanner Pearson, Los Angeles Kings
It might have been the biggest goal of the season—so far—for the Los Angeles Kings. After a Dustin Brown hit created a turnover, Pearson pick up the loose biscuit at the San Jose blue line, raced into the zone and fired a wrister that beat Martin Jones through the five hole at 3:47 of sudden death. The OT marker clinched a 2-1 win for the Kings and prevented them from falling into a 3-0 hole against their Northern California rivals