Stanley Cup Playoffs Preview and Live Thread: April 20

Three game threes on tonight's schedule, all starting an hour apart as the Anaheim series heads East to the Central time zone. If you can make the TV out through the haze, here's the games you'll find:

New York Rangers at Pittsburgh Penguins, Game 3 (Tied 1-1)

7:00 Eastern, CBC, NBC Sports, regional broadcasts

Sidney Crosby stunned doofuses and hot takists everywhere in Game 2 by putting two pucks past Henrik Lundqvist on the way to a 4-3 victory. Chris Kunitz added 3 points of his own (goal, 2 assists) on a reunited line with Crosby. It's almost like those two are pretty good together and should possibly be on a line more often. A last-minute tally from Rick Nash made this one look maybe closer than it was.

Tonight the series moves to Pittsburgh with momentum firmly behind the Penguins. It's a new series, best-of-five. Should be fun and cool, as far as the East goes.

St. Louis Blues at Minnesota Wild, Game 3 (Tied 1-1)

8:00 Eastern, CNBC, Sportsnet 1, regional broadcasts

After Minnesota sliced and diced the Blues in Game 1, the old Devan Dubnyk who found himself 4th on the Canadiens' depth chart showed up as Vladimir Tarasenko scored a hat trick* and the Blues took Game 2, 4-1. Old friend Kevin Shattenkirk assisted both of Tarasenko's real goals. As the series heads north tonight, we'll get to see how Yeo utilizes his guys with the last change, and how Hitchcock adjusts.

Also related to the series changing venue, reposting our rooting interest for Bob:

Anaheim Ducks at Winnipeg Jets, Game 3 (ANA 2 - 0 WPG)

9:00 Eastern (this is 8:00 local), NHL Network (NBC Sports after NYR-PIT ends), Sportsnet, regional broadcasts

Game 2 was actually a blast. The Thrashers took a lead in the second, but then they just sort of sat on it too long and Ondrej Pavelec, despite looking amazing in this game, eventually gave up a pair in the third period. Including a controversial game winner: Jakob Silfverberg got tangled up with a defender behind the net and ended up dragging the guy down by the stick, of all things. No call on that play. Then they both got up, Silfverberg went to the front of the net and found the puck, then he just kind of put it in and no one is entirely sure how Pavelec missed it except to say "Pavelec."

Pretty obvious which series the league cares about tonight, as the one with the most travel only has one day off between games 2 and 3, and then that game starts at 8:00 local on a Monday. The MTS Centre should be fun to listen to. Check this one out, guys. The series may be 2-0 but the games have both been very tight and hotly contested.