Here are your Puck Previews: Spotlighting the key games in NHL action, news and views as well as general frivolity. Make sure to stop back here for the nightly Three Stars when the games are finished.
Preview: New York Rangers at Washington Capitals, 7:30 p.m. ET
Said Alex Ovechkin after playing just 13 minutes in Game 2: "Sometimes you just have to put eye in your butt and, you know, play for everybody." I'm going to assume "eye" is supposed to be "I", although that only makes a little more sense. Will he play more in Game 3 at home? It's probable, especially since Dale Hunter will have the last change, so the Capitals' coach won't have to work so hard to keep Ovechkin away from Girardi and McDonagh. Brandon Dubinsky accompanied his teammates to Washington, but didn't take the morning skate. It looks like he won't play.
Preview: Phoenix Coyotes at Nashville Predators, 9 p.m. ET
Will the suspensions of Alexander Radulov and Andrei Kostitsyn cost the Predators the scoring punch they need to win a crucial game 3 at home, or will it galvanize the team and lead them to a Game 3 victory? (The third option is that it does neither, and the outcome Wednesday night has nothing to do with the decision to suspend these two, but we'll be told it has everything to do with it either way.)
Evening reading
• According to a survey, men go on fewer dates during the playoffs. [Postmedia]
• Here's a cool infographic on the 48 athletes that have signed up with You Can Play. [Sixteen Wins]
• Friedman: "Convinced the edgier-than-ever John Tortorella media conferences have to do with his recent $20,000 fine. There were always things he wouldn't discuss, but this is a new level. You could always find something he'd have a (great) opinion about." [CBC]
• The Calgary Flames have signed Roman Cervenka to an entry-level deal. The Czech centre led the KHL in playoff scoring with 11 goals and 11 assists in 20 games. [Calgary Sun]
Puck Buddy Comment of the Day: Joel handicaps the postseason MVP race.
LA Kings Twitter account should be the Conn Smythe front-runner at this point.
Bold prediction: The Coyotes take a 3-0 lead.