Tuesday Stanley Cup Daily: You Got What You Paid For - And More

Canes Country’s morning snap shots recapping last night’s action in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

---

Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images

Toronto Maple Leafs 4, Washington Capitals 3 (OT) (TOR leads 2-1)

The Maple Leafs came into game three with home ice advantage after stealing game two in double overtime in Washington. Much like in games 1 and 2, the home team came out slow and the road team took advantage. The Caps jumped out to a two-goal lead just five minutes into the opening period.

Leafs rookie Auston Matthews recorded his first playoff goal near the end of the first period to cut the Caps’ lead to 2-1 heading into the second period. The Caps jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the second just before the Leafs took multiple penalties off of the same play resulting in a full two minute 5-on-3. The Leafs killed the two-man disadvantage, as well as a subsequent too many men on the ice penalty, to grab the momentum and didn't look back.

The Leafs scored two unanswered goals in the second to tie the game and for the third straight game in the series, extra time was needed to break the tie. At just 1:37 into the overtime Tyler Bozak redirected a puck past Braden Holtby to claim a 2-1 series lead.

Caps fans, predictably, reacted with restraint and composure:

The series continues Wednesday in Toronto at 7:00 pm. -Zeke Lukow

---

Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images

Ottawa Senators 4, Boston Bruins 3 (OT) (OTT leads 2-1)

It's not how you start, it's how you finish. The Ottawa Senators just happened to do both in Game 3 to pull out a 4-3 OT victory and take a 2-1 lead in the series.

Okay, it wasn't all pretty for the Senators. The first period was a breeze, with two quick goals within 30 seconds of each other (Mike Hoffman, then Derick Brassard). Hoffman scored again on a power play early in the second period to make it a 3-0 lead.

But then, a few minutes later, Boston's Noel Acciari, who had only played 29 games in the regular season and was making his playoff debut, gave the Bruins their first goal with a redirection, and David Backes followed his lead 30 seconds later with a net crash to make it 3-2. A Dion Phaneuf slashing penalty led to the game-tying goal off the stick of David Pastrnak, which brought a deafening yell from the TD Garden crowd.

The Senators wouldn't let the momentum carry over into the third period, though, and forced overtime. After Riley Nash was called for a controversial roughing penalty just before the 5:00 mark, Bobby Ryan, the man who Nash roughed in retaliation for an elbow to the face, tipped in the game winner off a hard pass from Kyle Turris.

Brutal.

The game had it all: momentum shifts, great saves, controversies and an overtime winner for the second time. Game 4 is Wednesday at 7:30 at TD Garden — can they make it three straight overtime finishes? -Jake Crouse

---

Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images

Nashville Predators 3, Chicago Blackhawks 2 (OT) (NSH leads 3-0)

If you were looking for signs of life from the Chicago Blackhawks, they finally delivered. Or they did, until Nashville decided to flex their muscles once again to earn an impressive comeback victory in overtime at Bridgestone Arena.

The Blackhawks managed to keep the Preds off the board in the first period for the first time this series, and took another step in the right direction with a quick goal early in the second from Dennis Rasmussen. Ten minutes later, Patrick Kane broke through on the power play to give Chicago a cushion.

Then things got weird. Early in the third, Filip Forsberg tallied the Preds' first goal of the game after an awkward bounce off a stanchion behind the net had Corey Crawford turned around as the puck landed in the crease for Forsberg to tap in. And with just under six minutes to go, Forsberg added another on a rebound, albeit with controversy from Viktor Arvidsson making contact with Crawford outside the crease. The goal was allowed nonetheless, and the game headed to the night's third of four overtimes.

The teams traded chances in OT, including one from Kevin Fiala that resulted in a stellar toe save by Crawford. Fiala would have the last laugh, though, as he scored the game-winner after some slick passing with James Neal almost 17 minutes into the extra frame. Pekka Rinne posted 34 saves in the win, while Crawford stopped 46 shots of his own.

Game 4 will be Thursday night in Bridgestone Arena as the Predators go for a stunning sweep of the Blackhawks. -Peter Dewar

---

Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images

Anaheim Ducks 5, Calgary Flames 4 (OT) (ANA leads 3-0)

In last night's episode of "The Calgary Flames Refuse to Win a Playoff Game", the Calgary Flames refused to win a playoff game.

After holding a 4-1 lead in the final moments of the second period, the Flames blew it. They allowed a trio of goals in the final 20:49 of regulation time and Corey Perry put the dagger in the hearts of many Albertans just a minute and a half into overtime.

On top of the game-winning goal, Perry had an assist on Monday. He was held off of the scoresheet in games one and two in California.

Shea Theodore, a player who I outlined in the game preview on Monday, had another fantastic game, finding the back of the net twice. The 21-year-old defenseman is now up to five points in the series.

The Flames have now lost three very winnable games. They've blown two second-period leads and were the victims of an immaculately bad bounce in their Game 2 loss. Game 4 is a now a win or stay home game for Calgary at the Scotiabank Saddledome, slated for Wednesday night at 10:00 pm EST in Southern Alberta. -Brett Finger