Mitch Marner netted a natural hat trick and four points en route to capturing the League-lead in goals (tied) and points this postseason as the Golden Knights defeated the Ducks to take a 2-1 series lead.
* A five-goal outing – Montreal’s largest output this postseason – allowed the Canadiens to even the series at 1-1 and improve to 4-0 after a loss in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the most wins among all teams.
* Lengthy winning streaks is the storyline to follow on Saturday’s two-game slate as the Hurricanes aim to become the first team to start a postseason 8-0 since 1987 (when all four rounds became best-of-seven), while the Avalanche could make the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs the first in NHL history in which two clubs start 7-0 or better.
MARNER NETS NATURAL HAT TRICK, POTS FOUR POINTS AS VEGAS GOES UP 2-1
Mitch Marner (3-1—4) scored a hat trick and recorded a four-point performance to move into the League-lead in goals (tied) and points this postseason as Vegas defeated Anaheim at Honda Center to take a 2-1 series lead. The Golden Knights earned a Game 3 win on the road to take a series lead for the sixth time – they went on to win each of their five previous instances (2023 R2, 2023 R1, 2021 R1, 2020 R2 & 2018 R2).
* Marner became the second player in Golden Knights history to score a natural hat trick (also Jonathan Marchessault in Game 6 of 2023 R2) and the first player League-wide since Sam Reinhart in Game 6 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final. He also became the first Vegas player to record multiple goals in consecutive road games – the only players in NHL history with a longer streak are Mark Scheifele (3 GP in 2018) and Steve Payne (3 GP in 1981).
* Marner became the fourth player in Golden Knights history to record four points in a playoff game, each of the previous three instances took place in 2019 – Mark Stone and Paul Stastny in Game 3 of the 2019 First Round as well as Max Pacioretty in Game 4 of the 2019 First Round. In the process, Marner also became the first Vegas player to record three or more points in consecutive road playoff contests and the first League-wide since Mikko Rantanen (2 GP in 2025).
EARLY GOALS PROPEL CANADIENS TO EVEN SERIES
Alex Newhook (2-0—2) and Mike Matheson (1-0—1) each scored in the opening five minutes of Game 2 to help Montreal skate to its highest output this postseason as the Canadiens earned a win in Buffalo to split the series prior to heading home. Montreal scored twice within the opening five minutes of a playoff game for the third time in the past 35 years, following Game 1 of the 2008 Conference Quarterfinals (2:02) and Game 2 of the 2011 Conference Quarterfinals (2:20).
* Jakub Dobes became the third Canadiens rookie goaltender over the past 40 years (since 1986) to record five or more wins in a single postseason, joining Patrick Roy (15 in 1986) and Carey Price (5 in 2008). His six career playoff wins tied Gerry McNeil for the seventh most by a rookie in franchise history.
* Lane Hutson collected an assist on the opening goal to improve his career playoff totals to 2-10—12 (14 GP). He became the second-fastest Canadiens player to record 10 career assists, behind Elmer Lach (11 GP). Hutson’s point total this postseason (2-5—7) is the most by a Montreal defenseman in a playoff year since P.K. Subban in 2015 (1-7—8 in 12 GP).
ICYMI: Matheson and Alexandre Carrier both scored their first goal of the postseason. Matheson, who is from the Montreal area, and Carrier, who is from Quebec City, both grew up Canadiens fans and dreamt of playing for the franchise as kids.
KUCHEROV, MACKINNON, MCDAVID NAMED HART TROPHY FINALISTS
Nikita Kucherov, Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid – the same trio as in 2023-24 – are the three finalists for the 2025-26 Hart Memorial Trophy, awarded “to the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team.” Click here for full details.
QUICK CLICKS
* Gavin McKenna to skip World Championship to prepare for Combine
* Flyers believe experience can help them climb out of 3-0 hole against Hurricanes
* Ryan Miller bangs Sabres drum before Game 2 of Eastern Conference 2nd Round
* Tage Thompson ‘fighting it’ as playoff struggles continue in Game 2 loss
* King Clancy nominee Joey Daccord of Kraken creates meaningful moments to uplift youth
HURRICANES, AVALANCHE AIM FOR RESPECTIVE 8-0, 7-0 STARTS
Saturday will see lengthy winning streaks on the line as the Hurricanes aim to win their eighth straight game to advance to the 2026 Eastern Conference Final, while the Avalanche can win their seventh consecutive postseason contest. Should the Avalanche achieve that feat, it would mark the first time in Stanley Cup Playoffs history two teams have started 7-0 or better. Meanwhile, the Flyers and Wild will both aim to stunt those lengthy runs – Philadelphia enters Saturday with the goal of forcing a Game 5, while Minnesota looks to cut its series to 2-1 as it shifts home. More notes and League trends on the lengthy winning streaks can be found in Saturday’s #NHLStats: Live Updates.
* Philadelphia will aim to force a Game 5 with a win on Saturday – the Flyers are one of four teams in NHL history to have rallied from a 0-3 series deficit to win, doing so in the 2010 Conference Semifinals against the Bruins. Philadelphia’s general manager Daniel Brière was part of that roster and scored the winning goal in Game 6, as well as one of his club’s four goals in Game 7 to clinch the series. Sean Couturier has the most points in potential elimination games among the Flyers’ active roster (4-3—7 in 7 GP), while Luke Glendening has the most experience (1-1—2 in 11 GP).
* Jordan Staal will aim to help the Hurricanes advance to the next round with their eighth straight win to start the 2026 postseason. Staal won a Stanley Cup as a 20-year-old with the 2009 Penguins and has been pursuing a second ever since. Carolina is the third team in the past 30 years to post a 7-0 start to the postseason and Staal has been involved in all three – the 2024 Rangers started 7-0 before Staal and the Hurricanes ended the streak, and he was a 19-year-old sophomore with the 2008 Penguins when they cruised to the Final. Staal can become the first player in NHL history to go 17 years from his first Stanley Cup to his next.
* The Wild have won five of their last seven Game 3s when entering the contest trailing 2-0 in the series. Minnesota’s lone series win when trailing 2-0 in a best-of-seven came during the 2014 First Round, when they defeated the Avalanche in seven games. Two current Wild players skated in that series: Jared Spurgeon and Jonas Brodin.
* Nathan MacKinnon and the Avalanche will look to establish a franchise record for the longest winning streak to start a postseason and take a 3-0 series lead on Saturday. The Avalanche/Nordiques franchise owns an all-time record of 8-14 in Game 3s when leading 2-0 in a best-of-seven series and has won three of its past four Game 3s in this scenario, with each of those ending in four contests (2026 R1, 2022 CF & 2022 R1).
-09123051.png)