* Kris Letang and Sidney Crosby connected on the game-winning goal to evade elimination for the second straight contest as the Penguins forced a Game 6 in a victory that saw the veteran blueliner become just the second defenseman in NHL history to score consecutive game-winning goals when facing elimination.
* Shea Theodore scored his first career playoff overtime goal as the Golden Knights became the third First Round matchup to be tied 2-2 and guaranteed that at least four series this round will require six or more games.
* Two of the three Game 5s slated for Tuesday feature teams looking to force a Game 6 – Boston and Edmonton – while both the Wild and Stars have an opportunity to take a 3-2 series lead in their First Round matchup.
LETANG, CROSBY ALLOW PENGUINS TO FORCE A GAME 6
Kris Letang scored his second straight game-winning goal and Sidney Crosby factored on two of his team’s three tallies to ensure the Penguins would play another contest in the 2026 Stanley Cup – both climbed a number of NHL lists in the process. Pittsburgh became the sixth team since 2016 to force a Game 6 after falling behind 3-0 in their postseason series and did so for the second time in Letang and Crosby’s career (also 2012 CQF vs. PHI).
* Letang became the second defenseman in Stanley Cup Playoffs history to score consecutive game-winning goals when facing elimination, joining J.C. Tremblay (Game 6-7 of 1971 QF). At age 39 (and three days), he also became the second-oldest player in Stanley Cup Playoffs history to score consecutive game winners behind Ron Francis (39 years, 63 days) during Game 6 of the 2002 Conference Quarterfinal and Game 1 of the Conference Semifinals.
* Letang climbed multiple lists among active defensemen – he recorded his ninth career go-ahead goal, which tied Brent Burns for the most along with his 25th career postseason tally, which passed Burns and Cale Makar (both w/ 24) for tops within that cohort. Earlier this season, Letang was featured in the NHL’s Skates Off series for his passion for fashion.
* Crosby moved into a tie with Mario Lemieux (9-12—21) for the second-most points in games when facing elimination in Penguins history behind Jaromir Jagr (12-16—28). The Penguins captain also recorded his sixth career multi-point performance in that same scenario – only three active players have more: Brad Marchand (8), Patrick Kane (7) and Connor McDavid (7).
* Crosby became the fourth active player to record 100 postseason wins, joining Corey Perry (137), Ryan McDonagh (107) and Marchand (100). He also moved up the NHL’s all-time playoff list for multi-assist periods, climbing into seventh with his 28th.
THEODORE’S OT WINNER HELPS VEGAS WITHSTAND UTAH RALLY TO EVEN SERIES
The Golden Knights opened a three-goal lead but soon faced a deficit of their own after the Mammoth responded with four straight. Brett Howden (2-1—3) levelled the game in the third period with his second of the night to set up overtime, where Shea Theodore scored with 52 seconds left in the extra frame to help Vegas head home with its First Round series squared.
* Theodore netted his first career playoff overtime goal and became the first defenseman to achieve the feat for the Golden Knights. Theodore’s last game winner in the postseason came in Game 7 of the 2020 Second Round when he tallied the series clincher against Vancouver.
* Jack Eichel (0-3—3) factored on the overtime winner and matched the franchise record for most assists in a playoff game. His six three-point playoff games with Vegas are tied with Jonathan Marchessault for the most in franchise history, while his three games with three-plus assists are now the most by a Golden Knights player in the postseason.
QUICK CLICKS
* Monday’s #NHLStats: Live Updates
* Start times for Stanley Cup Playoff games on April 29 announced
* MLB’s George Springer rocks full hockey gear for practice
*Nikita Zadorov fined maximum for cross-checking in Game 4 with Bruins
* NHL to begin revealing 2025-26 season award finalists on Tuesday
* NHL STREET to be brought to schools nationwide
TUESDAY HAS PIVOTAL GAME 5 IN DALLAS, TWO TEAMS TRYING TO evade ELIMINATION
Tuesday’s schedule features Edmonton and Boston looking to force Game 6 in its First Round matchups against Anaheim and Buffalo, respectively, as well as a crucial contest in Dallas with a 3-2 series lead on the line.
* Connor McDavid and the Oilers head into their 16th game facing elimination since the start of the 2017 playoffs as Jackson LaCombe and the Ducks aim for the franchise’s first series win since eliminating Edmonton in the Second Round of that same postseason. McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are among the League’s active leaders in points when facing elimination, with Draisaitl’s total including a 3-2—5 effort against Anaheim in Game 6 of the last head-to-head series.
* David Pastrnak can help the Bruins win a playoff round after facing a 3-1 deficit for the first time in franchise history, while Alex Tuch and the Sabres seek the club’s first series victory since a six-game triumph versus the Rangers during the 2007 Conference Semifinals. Boston can force a Game 6 for the first time since Morgan Geekie and Charlie McAvoy accounted for both goals in a 2-1 win against Florida during the 2024 Second Round.
* Matt Boldy played the role of overtime hero in Game 4 and leads the Wild back to American Airlines Center where they’ll face Jason Robertson, who can extend his postseason-opening goal streak to a franchise-record five games. Robertson can also tie the club mark for longest at any point in a playoff year shared by Minnesota North Stars forwards Steve Payne (5 GP in 1981) and Milan Marcetta (5 GP in 1968).
