Stanley Cup Playoffs 2015: Latest Scores, Bracket Results and Updated Picture

With all but one NHL playoff series through three games, a clear picture of how these matchups might play out is starting to emerge. While some series appear to be all but over, a few more are really heating up. 

Let's break down the matchups, review the previous results and take a closer look at the full playoff picture.

Matchups

Conference	Matchup	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3
Western	St. Louis Blues vs. Minnesota Wild	MIN 4-2	STL 4-1	MIN 3-0
Western	Nashville Predators vs. Chicago Blackhawks	CHI 4-3	NSH 6-2	CHI 4-2
Western	Anaheim Ducks vs. Winnipeg Jets	ANA 4-2	ANA 2-1	ANA 5-4
Western	Vancouver Canucks vs. Calgary Flames	CGY 2-1	VAN 4-1	CGY 4-2
Eastern	Montreal Canadiens vs. Ottawa Senators	MTL 4-3	MTL 3-2	MTL 2-1
Eastern	Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Detroit Red Wings	DET 3-2	TB 5-2	-
Eastern	New York Rangers vs.Pittsburgh Penguins	NYR 2-1	PIT 4-3	NYR 2-1
Eastern	Washington Capitals vs. New York Islanders	NYI 4-1	WSH 4-3	NYI 2-1

Playoff Picture

It seems pretty safe to put a fork in the Winnipeg Jets and Ottawa Senators. The Jets have certainly battled but the Anaheim Ducks have always had the answer. 

In Game 1, Corey Perry's two third-period goals did in the Jets. In Game 2, Jakob Silfverberg's goal in the third period with 21 seconds remaining beat the Jets. In Game 3, the Ducks overcame three deficits to beat the Jets in overtime on Rickard Rakell's winner.

The Jets will probably wish the NHL would remove the third periods altogether after this series.

The Senators, meanwhile, could probably do without overtime, as the Montreal Canadiens have beaten them in extra time in the past two games. The two teams have been incredibly even throughout, but the Canadiens have been a bit more clutch. 

Given how close each game has been, either the Jets or Senators could conceivably make a series of their first-round contests. But recovering from a 3-0 hole is a tall task, and neither team is going to dig itself free. 

Meanwhile, several teams have stolen home-ice advantage and could take a huge 3-1 series lead with the possibility of a home game in Game 6 to finish things. The Minnesota Wild, Chicago Blackhawks, Calgary Flames and New York Islanders all fit that bill. 

For some of these teams, the position in which they find themselves is hardly surprising. People expected the Blackhawks to make a run, for instance, especially with Patrick Kane returning. What they didn't expect, however, was the emergence of backup goalie Scott Darling, who has stopped 77 of 79 shots in these playoffs in relief of Corey Crawford. 

Darling has become the story of these playoffs, and even Crawford is rooting for him, as he told reporters via Scott Powers of ESPN:

"

I want to be in the net and I want to play. Always did and I always will, but that's not my job right now. Right now my job is to battle hard in practice, be positive in the room and encourage the guys. 

Scott's an awesome guy. He's gone through a lot to get here and he's been playing awesome. How can you not feel good for him? He's been great and I'll just keep pushing him to be at his best.

"

When a player makes history in Game 1, you have to love that. Consider this, from ESPN Stats & Information:

The Blackhawks were tough enough to beat with a red-hot journeyman goalie. Now they seem very, very formidable. 

The New York Rangers, meanwhile, retook home-ice advantage against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night. The Rangers still feel like the most complete team in the Eastern Conference, and the fact that the Penguins play without discipline at times and have committed several penalties hasn't helped their cause. 

This one may go the full seven, but the Rangers are advancing.

Finally, the Tampa Bay Lightning and Detroit Red Wings are tied at one game each, with the crucial Game 3 on tap. Detroit now has two games at home to seize control of this series, though Tampa Bay's electrifying (pun intended) offense will be too difficult for the Red Wings to contain, even at home.

The Lightning would take a split in Detroit and a three-game series with two of the contests at home. This should continue to be a fun series, but Tampa Bay is moving on.