Not just Price is right: Canadiens have Penguins on brink

It seemed like any hope Montreal Caniens h of beating Pittsburgh Penguins rested on shoulders of goaltender Carey Price.

Price has shouldered a big lo in net, but he's t only reason high-powered Penguins are on brink of elimination, down 2-1 in best-of-five qualifying round series. Montreal has held star Russian center Evgeni Malkin to one secondary assist in three games and can kck out Pittsburgh with one more victory in Game 4 Friday (4 p.m. EDT, NBC Sports Network).

“Pricey’s been really solid: He’s making some key saves for us," center Phillip Danault said. “But yeah, he’s t alone in this and it’s important for him to kw. We show some character, we go toe to toe. We embrace challenge.”

Eastern Conference's 12th (and lowest) seed has shut down NHL's best team that didn't get luxury of a bye into tritional first round of playoffs. Beyond Price's 104 saves on 111 shots to match lofty expectations for his game, Caniens have held Penguins to three power-play goals in 15 chances and bottled up an opponent that won Stanley Cup twice in previous four seasons.

Two-time playoff MVP Sidney Crosby has scored twice and ded an assist, though Jake Guentzel and Bryan Rust are also tied with him for most points on Penguins with three. team defense in front of Price has been suffocating and explains why Caniens are a win away from vancing.

“We’re definitely aware when Malkin’s on ice or Crosby’s on ice and we try and limit ir chances and take ir away as quick as possible,” Montreal defenseman Ben Chiarot said. “But y’re world-class players and y’re going to get ir opportunities, and that’s when Carey steps in and does what he’s been doing for us. It’s five of us out re working toger, playing defense and we’re just trying to keep it as tight as possible when those guys are on ice.”

EYES ON NET

All eyes are on goalies as New York Islanders face Florida Panrs and Nashville Predators face Arizona Coyotes on Friday.

Islanders me $10 million Florida goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky look vulnerable in going up 2-0, and Panrs me some lineup and strategy justments to fight to see ar day . New York might be able to close it out if y can crack Bobrovsky once again in Game 4 (on EDT, NBCSN).

“A focus for us offensively for sure is trying to create some chaos, take away his eyes,” Islanders forward Brock Nelson said. “You have to find ways to kind of create some confusion in front with defenders, guys crossing in front and different things.”

Three-time Cup-winning coach Joel Quenneville got rewarded for t pulling plug on “Bob” after allowing six goals in first two games of series and hopes vint Bobrovsky is here to stay.

“He did what he h to do to give us a chance and got us a win,” Quenneville said. “He’s been under some situations where he’s played in a lot of big moments like that, and I think that can help us moving forward.”

Arizona goaltender Darcy Kuemper hasn't been in a lot of of big moments like this. It's just his second playoff series as starter and first since 2014, but that didn't stop him from making 39 saves Wednesday to push Nashville to brink.

One more like that in Game 4 (2:30 p.m. EDT, NHL Network) and Coyotes could be on to round of 16.

“ next game is going to be most important pressure game again for Kuemps," coach Rick Tocchet said. "He’s h to do this for us a lot in last two years, and to me it’s his attitude and way he approaches game, for me — unflappable.”

OILERS vs. BLACKHAWKS, Chicago les 2-1.

Goaltending and team defense haven’t been story in Western Conference’s 5 vs. 12 series that has Edmonton Oilers one loss away from elimination by Chicago. three goalies who have seen action have allowed 26 goals on 185 shots.

Edmonton coach Dave Tippett said his team has to focus on getting better for Game 4 (6:45 p.m. Friday, NBCSN) but doesn’t think it’s as big a focus as cutting down on penalties.

“It’s t as if we’re giving up a ton of chances,” Tippett said. “y’re going in our net, and we have to find a way to overcome some of those mistakes that are allowing that and find a way to keep m off board and get us more.”

BACK TO BACK

Two series are going back-to-back from Game 3 Thursday to Game 4 Friday: Toronto Maple Leafs and Columbus Blue Jackets (8 p.m., NHL Network) and Vancouver Canucks and Minnesota Wild (10:45 p.m., NBCSN).

Im credits: AP