NHL Three Stars: Crosby, Kessel crush Lightning in Game 3 win
No. 1 Star: Phil Kessel, Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins’ sniper scored a goal and added an assist as his line drove the play for Pittsburgh in their Game 3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. In this series, Kessel has two goals and four points in three games. Kessel also leads the Penguins in playoff scoring with 16 points in 13 games. Pittsburgh leads the series 2-1.
No. 2 Star: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
Crosby picked up his second goal in the last two games with a one-timer on a power play in the third period. Before Game 2 of this series, Crosby hadn’t scored since Game 4 of the first-round. The Penguins have won 10 straight playoff games when Crosby scores a goal.
No. 3 Star: Carl Hagelin, Pittsburgh Penguins
Kessel’s linemate picked up his fifth goal of the playoffs at the 19:50 mark of the second period to open the scoring in Game 3. This postseason he has 11 points in 14 games played. His career high is 12 points set in 25 games with the New York Rangers in 2014.
Honorable Mention: Penguins goaltender Matt Murray stopped 26 of 28 Tampa shots on goal … Pittsburgh forward Chris Kunitz scored his second goal of the playoffs … Tampa forward Ondrej Palat scored a goal and added an assist … Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov notched two assists … Tampa goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 44 of 48 shots on goal – the most saves by a Tampa goaltender in a regulation playoff game in the organization’s history … Tampa’s Tyler Johnson scored a goal.
Did You Know? Murray became the first goaltender under the age of 22 to record nine wins in a single playoff since Felix Potvin with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1993.
Dishonorable Mention: The Lightning have allowed 124 shots on goal through Games 1-3 of this series. Games 2 and 3 were the first time the Lightning have allowed over 40 shots on goal in back-to-back games since October of 2011. … Tampa has fired 69 shots on goal total in Games 1-3 … Tampa defenseman Victor Hedman was held pointless for the first time this series.
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