NHL MORNING SKATE: PLAYOFFS EDITION – MAY 15, 2021

THREE HARD LAPS

* Opening night of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs is upon us. The Capitals and Bruins are set to take to the ice in Game 1 of their First Round series at Capital One Arena.

* Forty-four-year-old Zdeno Chara can join rare company when he takes to the ice against the franchise he captained for 14 seasons.

* Teams that take a 1-0 lead in a best-of-seven series hold an all-time record of 490-222 (.688), including a 7-1 mark in the 2020 First Round.

2021 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS OPEN WITH CAPITALS, BRUINS ON NBC, HNIC AND TVAS The 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs begin today with Game 1 between the Capitals and Bruins taking the spotlight on opening night. The primetime showdown begins at 7:15 p.m. ET on NBC in the and on Sportsnet, CBC and TVA Sports in Canada.

CAPITALS, BRUINS TO MEET IN PLAYOFF SERIES FOR FIRST TIME IN NINE YEARS The Capitals and Bruins – two of the NHL’s most successful franchises over the last 11 seasons (during both the regular season and playoffs) – will face off in a postseason series for the first time since 2012. This will be the fourth playoff series between the clubs, in addition to their showdown in the 2020 Stanley Cup Qualifiers.

* In the first two series between the clubs, the winner went on to compete in the Stanley Cup Final. In 1990, swept Washington in the Conference Finals to set up a date with Edmonton in the championship series, while in 1998 the Capitals defeated the Bruins in six games in the opening round en route to their first Final appearance. In their last series (2012 CQF), Alex Ovechkin had 2-3—5 in seven games to lead the No. 7-ranked Capitals to victory against now-teammate Zdeno Chara and the No. 2-ranked Bruins.

* Chara, 44, now is set to become the seventh player in NHL history to appear in a playoff game at age 44 or older and first since Jaromir Jagr skated for the Panthers at age 44 in the 2016 First Round. Each skater to play a playoff game at age 44 or older collected points: Chris Chelios (1-6—7 in 44 GP), Gordie Howe (1-1—2 in 3 GP) and Jagr (0-2—2 in 6 GP).

* The last series-clinching between these clubs was scored by Joel Ward of the Capitals when he buried the rebound of a Mike Knuble to beat Bruins Tim Thomas at 2:57 of overtime in Game 7 of the 2012 Conference Quarterfinals in Boston. It was the second (and most recent) overtime goal by a Capitals player in a Game 7 (also Dale Hunter in 1988 DSF vs. PHI).

* David Pastrnak has recorded 20-33—53 in 52 career postseason games and is set to turn 25 on May 25. While only two Boston players have registered more career playoff goals before their 25th birthday (Cam Neely: 33 in 57 GP & Barry Pederson: 21 in 31 GP), Pastrnak is just one of three active players to score 200 or more regular-season goals and at least 20 playoff goals before age 25. The others: Alex Ovechkin and .

* Brad Marchand (37-58—95 in 121 GP) sits five points shy of becoming the seventh player to record 100 points in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with the Bruins franchise – teammates David Krejci (40-75— 115 in 145 GP) and Patrice Bergeron (42-69—111 in 149 GP) have already reached the milestone. No current team has more than two players on their roster with 100 career postseason points.

ALL #NHLSTATS, ALL THE TIME In addition to the NHL Morning Skate continuing daily throughout the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs, #NHLStats Live Updates will return for each game day. Links will be posted by @PR_NHL on Twitter and Instagram Story before the first puck-drop each day and updated regularly during games, with the Saturday, May 15 edition now available.

* MEDIA REMINDER: Schedules and recordings of daily media availabilities will be available on the NHL’s media site as they were during the regular season – you must have an account to access this content. The 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs Information Guide also is available on the site for registered users.

* In addition, an #NHLStats Pack with information as of each team’s clinch date is publicly available for all 16 playoff-bound clubs: Vegas, Colorado, Minnesota, Carolina, Florida, Tampa Bay, , Pittsburgh, Washington, NY Islanders, Boston, Edmonton, Winnipeg, St. Louis, Nashville and Montreal.

QUICK CLICKS

* Stanley Cup Playoffs Coverage * Stanley Cup Playoffs first-round storylines * NHL, Betway announce multiyear partnership * Wild forward Ryan Hartman fined for dangerous trip * Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick narrates a tease that will open NBC Sports’ Stanley Cup Playoffs coverage