Kuemper hurt in Avalanche win

The Colorado Avalanche lost goalie Darcy Kuemper late in the first period. Their power play is so strong right now that’s all they lost.

Gabriel Landeskog scored twice in the second period, and the Avalanche beat the Nashville Predators 7-3 Saturday for a commanding 3-0 lead in their first-round series.

Play stopped with 56.6 seconds left in the first period. Replays showed Predators center Ryan Johansen’s stick apparently poked through Kuemper’s mask. The goalie was able to skate off and headed to the locker room holding a towel to his face.

Coach Jared Bednar said that Kuemper was well and doing better even though the goalie didn’t return. Kuemper will be further evaluated and has some swelling.

“He got evaluated right away and by the time we went back out, we had information it wasn’t going to be too serious,” Bednar said.

at Washington 6, Florida

1: Ilya Samsonov rebounded after giving up an early goal en route to 29 saves, and the Capitals bounced back to take a 2-1 series lead on the

Presidents’ Trophy-winning Panthers.

Alex Ovechkin scored a power-play goal and assisted on another for the Capitals, who shook off a 5-1 loss in Game 2 and an early deficit in Game 3.

Samsonov got the nod to replace Vitek Vanecek in net after stopping all 17 shots in relief Thursday.

at Pittsburgh York Rangers 4:

7, New

Danton Heinen’s first playoff goal in three years just past the midway point of the third period broke a tie to help give the Penguins a 2-1 series lead.

Pittsburgh blew a threegoal first-period lead but recovered behind the play of third-string goaltender Louis Domingue, who made 32 saves and even recorded an assist in his second playoff start.

Counterpart Igor Shesterkin was pulled after yielding four goals in the first period.

at Dallas 4, Calgary 2:

Joe Pavelski scored twice and got the game-winner on the Stars’ first power-play goal in the series as Dallas took a 2-1 lead in the series.

Jake Oettinger, the 23year-old goalie for Dallas, had 39 saves in his first playoff game at home.