Top-Seeded Panthers, Flames Take Game 3 Losses

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It almost feels like the Panthers, who shredded the NHL during the regular season, might have peaked too early, with their 13-game winning streak near the end of the campaign seemingly taking all the oxygen out of the room for the No. 1-seeded outfit. Perhaps what was strangest about Florida’s Game 3 loss to the Capitals was the near-complete lack of energy as the game wore on. It’s not like Washington jumped out big, either. The game was tied at 1-1 after the first period. And then the Panthers just kind of deflated.

Contrast that with how the Rangers handled a far, far more dire Game 3 situation. Trailing 4-1 after the first period, New York’s offense responded with three second-period goals. The end result for both Florida and New York was a 2-1 series deficit, but nobody has played more confusing postseason hockey than the Panthers to date. New York, at least, has looked like it wants to be there.

Colorado Avalanche 7 Nashville Predators 3

Darcy Kuemper only lasted for 19 minutes in Game 3 – he was forced out with an eye injury — and surrendered one goal (to Matt Duchene late in the first period) on 10 shots. He was subsequently replaced in-crease by Pavel Francouz. With the Avalanche just one game away from moving onto the conference semifinals, the team could afford to rest Kuemper for Game 4 if there are any lingering concerns, here, but in the early going, the team has already cleared him for a concussion and the injury is not considered to be long-term. Colorado will go for the sweep on Monday.

Francouz got off to a rocky start in relief – not a huge surprise, given that he was immediately thrust into playoff-intensity hockey –…