AVALANCHE TAKE 3-0 SERIES LEAD OVER PREDS WITH 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 top-seeded Avalanche beat the host Nashville Predators 7-3 Saturday for a commanding 3-0 lead in their first-round Western Conference series.

Landeskog also had two assists. Nazem Kadri and Devon Toews each added a goal and an assist, and Artturi Lehkonen and Nathan Mackinnon scored a power-play goal apiece as Colorado went 4 for 5 on the man advantage to push Nashville to the brink of elimination. Cale Makar had three assists.

“I’ve liked our power play a lot in this series, and tonight we just converted on our chances,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. “Sometimes it’s as simple as that.”

Valeri Nichushkin added an empty-net goal with 2:46 left. The Avs had a couple missed opportunities once Nashville pulled goalie Connor Ingram with more than 4 minutes remaining.

Avalanche goalie Darcy Kuemper was hurt with a minute left in the first period. Pavel Francouz replaced him and made 18 saves in his seventh career playoff appearance. Francouz didn’t see what happened to Kuemper, only that his teammate was in a lot of pain and he was going in immediately.

Bednar said Kuemper took a stick to the eye, leaving him with swelling. Kuemper will be re-evaluated and could be available Monday night for Game 4.

Matt Duchene, Eeli Tolvanen and captain Roman Josi each scored goals for Nashville. Alexandre Carrier had two assists.

Capitals 6, Panthers 1: Ilya Samsonov made 29 saves as host Washington beat Florida in Game 3 to take a lead in their first-round playoff series. Alex Ovechkin scored a power-play goal and assisted on another to put the Capitals up 2-1.

Penguins 7, Rangers 4: Danton Heinen’s first playoff goal in three years just past the midway point of the third period broke a tie to lift Pittsburgh to a victory over visiting New York to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round Eastern Conference series.

Stars 4, Flames 2: Joe Pavelski scored a power-play goal on a rebound at 10:05 of the third period to break a 2-2 tie and lift host Dallas to a 2-1 series lead over Calgary. Game 4 is 6:30 p.m. on Monday in Dallas.

Friday’s late result

Oilers 8, Kings 2: Evander Kane is happy to be making headlines for his on-ice play instead of off-ice controversies. Edmonton’s enigmatic forward has an Nhl-best five goals in the past two games of the Western Conference firstround series against Los Angeles. Kane had his first hat trick in a Stanley Cup playoff game as the visiting Oilers clobbered Los Angeles. The Oilers have a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series and look to continue their momentum tonight in Game 4.