The Golden Knights have already written the warning label for Game 3. Utah’s speed shows up fast when Vegas gives it time and space.
That is why the reset matters heading into Friday night in Salt Lake City with the series tied 1-1. Vegas has to clean up its neutral-zone gaps, manage momentum swings and get back to five-on-five control without chasing the game.
Around the bracket Thursday, three series took another step toward separation.
Yesterday’s games
Sabres take Game 3
Buffalo beat Boston 3-1 in Game 3 to grab a 2-1 series lead and flip home ice back again.
Tanner Jeannot put the Bruins ahead early in the second, but Bowen Byram tied it at 10:58. Alex Tuch scored the winner at 4:03 of the third, and Noah Ostlund added the empty-netter at 18:36. Alex Lyon finished with 24 saves.
Hurricanes push Ottawa to the brink
Carolina beat Ottawa 2-1 in Game 3 to take a 3-0 series lead, again keeping the game tight and controlled.
Logan Stankoven opened the scoring at 5:13 of the first, then Drake Batherson tied it at 16:06 of the second. Jackson Blake answered at 17:29, and that goal held up the rest of the way.
Avalanche tighten the grip
Colorado beat Los Angeles 4-2 in Game 3 to go up 3-0, with special teams and late-game detail doing the damage.
Gabriel Landeskog scored first, Trevor Moore tied it, then Cale Makar put Colorado ahead for good late in the second. Artturi Lehkonen added a shorthanded goal in the third, Brock Nelson scored an empty-netter, and the Kings never found a clean path back into it.
Tonight’s games
Lightning at Canadiens
The series is tied 1-1, and Game 3 hits the Bell Centre at 4 p.m. PT with the matchup finally shifting off Tampa ice.
Tampa has looked most comfortable when Andrei Vasilevskiy sees pucks clean and the Lightning stay out of the box. Montreal’s path is still pressure, pace and another night where its power play tilts the math.
Golden Knights at Mammoth
Vegas and Utah are tied 1-1, and Game 3 goes up at the Delta Center at 6:30 p.m. PT in Utah’s first home playoff game.
The Knights know what the tape shows: Utah gets dangerous when it has time and space through the neutral zone. Vegas has to close gaps earlier and manage the swings better, because the crowd will amplify every rush shift.
Oilers at Ducks
Edmonton and Anaheim are tied 1-1, and Game 3 starts at the Honda Center at 7 p.m. PT after the Ducks turned Game 2 into a track meet.
Edmonton’s ceiling is still obvious, but the Oilers have to manage the puck cleaner. Anaheim has proven it will take every loose moment and turn it into offense fast.
Related stories
Golden Knights face Utah speed test as series shifts to Game 3
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Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
