NHL MORNING SKATE: STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS EDITION – SEPTEMBER 1, 2020 THREE HARD LAPS * Victor Hedman scored the game-winning goal in double overtime to lift the Lightning to a 4-1 series win over the Bruins and into the Conference Finals for the fourth time in six seasons. * The Avalanche scored five goals in one period of a playoff game for the first time in franchise history and never relinquished the lead to stave off elimination in Game 5. * The Islanders and Golden Knights can both advance to the Conference Finals with a win today. HEDMAN SCORES IN 2OT TO LIFT LIGHTNING TO CONFERENCE FINALS Victor Hedman (1-1—2) scored at 14:10 of double overtime to lift the Lightning to the Conference Finals for the sixth time in franchise history and fourth in the last six seasons. Tampa Bay will now travel to Edmonton for the Eastern Conference Final where they will face the winner of the Flyers-Islanders series. * Hedman became the third Lightning player to score an overtime goal in a series-clinching game, joining Brayden Point earlier this postseason (Game 5 of 2020 R1) and Martin St. Louis (Game 5 of 2004 CQF and 3OT in Game 6 of the 2003 CQF). * Hedman, who became the third Lightning defenseman to score a playoff overtime goal, is just the third blueliner on any team in the last 10 years to score a series-clinching goal in a game that required multiple overtime periods. The others: Kevin Bieksa (2OT: Game 5 of 2011 CF w/ VAN) and Alec Martinez (2OT: Game 5 of 2014 SCF w/ LAK). * Ondrej Palat extended his goal streak to four games (5-1—6 in 4 GP) to match the longest such run by a Lightning player in the postseason, joining Steven Stamkos in 2018 (4-2—6 in 4 GP) and 2015 (4-3—7 in 4 GP), Vincent Lecavalier in 2007 (5-1—6 in 4 GP) and St. Louis in 2003 (5-3—8 in 4 GP). * Point added a pair of assists to extend his point streak to six games (2-9—11 in 6 GP), marking his second six-game stretch this postseason. The last time one player had multiple six- game point streaks in a single postseason was Cory Stillman in 2006 (7 GP and 13 GP) en route to helping the Hurricanes capture the franchise’s first Stanley Cup championship. AVALANCHE SURVIVE ELIMINATION AFTER FIVE-GOAL FIRST With their season on the line and Michael Hutchinson (31 saves) making his first career playoff start, the Avalanche jumped out to a 5-0 advantage in the first period and never relinquished the lead to win Game 5 and stave off elimination. It marked the first time in Avalanche/Nordiques history the team has scored five goals in one playoff period. * Colorado’s first period outburst included four goals in a span of 2:36 to mark the second- fastest four goals by one team in a playoff game. * This marked the fourth time in the 2020 postseason the Avalanche have scored six or more goals. The franchise has only had as many six-goal performances in a single postseason on one other occasion (4 in 1997). Additionally, the 2018 Capitals are the only other team in the last 20 years to post four or more six-goal outings in a single postseason. * Andre Burakovsky led the offense with 2-1—3 to become the 11th player in franchise history to record three or more points in a game when facing elimination and just the fourth in the last 20 years, joining J.T. Compher (2-1—3 in Game 6 of 2019 R2), Adam Foote (1-2—3 in Game 6 of 2001 SCF) and Alex Tanguay (2-1—3 in Game 7 of 2001 SCF). * Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon (1-1—2) has found the scoresheet in all 13 games contested by Colorado this postseason (8-15—23 in 13 GP). Only Bryan Trottier (18 GP in 1981), Mark Messier (14 GP in 1988) and Bobby Orr (14 GP in 1970) have recorded longer postseason-opening point streaks. * MacKinnon’s 23 points in 13 games so far this postseason is already tied with the leaders from the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Blues forward Ryan O’Reilly (8-15—23 in 26 GP) and Bruins forward Brad Marchand (9-14—23 in 24 GP). MEDIA REMINDER: Schedules and recordings of all Zoom media availabilities (including post- game) are available daily on the NHL’s media site – you must have an account to access this content. The 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs Information Guide as well as team playoff media guides also are available on the site. QUICK CLICKS * NHL announces Avalanche-Stars Game 6 time for Sept. 2 * NHL statement on COVID-19 testing results * Kenny Albert, NBC voice, details life in bubble during playoffs for NHL.com * Canucks 'not worried' facing elimination against Golden Knights in Game 5 * Rangers hire Jacques Martin as assistant, will run penalty kill, defense PREVIEW OF TODAY’S ACTION The Islanders and Golden Knights each have a chance to advance to the 2020 Conference Finals as they face off against the Flyers and Canucks, respectively, for Game 5. Teams that hold a 3-1 lead in a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Playoffs series own an all-time record of 285-29, including a 7-0 mark in 2020. A team has overcome a 3-1 series deficit to advance five times since 2012: the Sharks in the 2019 First Round (vs. VGK), the Rangers in both the 2015 Second Round (vs. WSH) and 2014 Second Round (vs. PIT), the Kings in the 2014 First Round (vs. SJS) and the Blackhawks in the 2013 Conference Semifinals (vs. DET). * The Islanders can reach the Conference Finals for the first time since 1993. When leading a best-of-seven series 3-1, New York holds an all-time series record of 10-0 (1.000). * Three current Islanders have scored a series-clinching goal: Anthony Beauvillier (Game 4 of the 2020 SCQ vs. FLA and Game 5 of the 2020 R1 vs. WSH), Brock Nelson (Game 4 of the 2019 R1 vs. PIT) and Johnny Boychuk (Game 4 of the 2011 CSF vs. PHI w/ BOS) * The Flyers aim to overcome a 3-1 deficit for the second time in franchise history after accomplishing the feat against the Bruins in the 2010 Conference Semifinals. Two current Flyers were part of that series comeback: Claude Giroux (1-4—5 in 7 GP) and James van Riemsdyk (1-0—1 in 7 GP). * The Golden Knights can become the first team in NHL history to reach the Conference Finals at least twice in their first three seasons. * Four teams have reached the final four in the playoffs at least twice in their first three NHL seasons, with three doing so in campaigns that featured anywhere from three to 10 teams: the Canadiens (1918 & 1919), original Senators (1919 & 1920) and Rangers (1927, 1928 & 1929). The fourth team is the Blues (1968, 1969 & 1970), who advanced to the Semifinals in each of their first three campaigns out of the West Division, which contained only clubs that had joined the League with them in 1967-68. * Additionally, Vegas can become the third franchise in NHL history to earn multiple series wins in two of its first three NHL seasons, in which they would join the Rangers (1928 and 1929) and Blues (1968, 1969 & 1970). * The Canucks have rallied from a 3-1 series deficit to win three times in franchise history (2003 CQF vs. STL, 1994 CQF vs. CGY and 1992 DSF vs. WIN). They advanced to the Stanley Cup Final in 1994 before falling to the Rangers in Game 7. .