NHL Playoff Bracket 2015: Latest Stanley Cup Scores, Standings and Predictions

The Stanley Cup playoffs really are much different than the postseason competitions in the other major sports.

Falling down 3-0 in a best-of-seven playoff series in the NBA or Major League Baseball has been a death sentence. No NBA team has ever come back from that deficit to win a series, and only one baseball team—the 2004 Boston Red Sox—has managed such a comeback and had that sentence commuted.

But NHL teams never give up when facing such a deficit. Four teams have come back from an 0-3 hole, including the 2014 Los Angeles Kings, who bounced back in last year's first round against the San Jose Sharks. They used that series to springboard to their second Stanley Cup championship in three seasons.

One year later, the Montreal Canadiens are making noises that they are ready to join that club. The Habs lost the first three games of their conference semifinal series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, but they have bounced back by winning the next two games.

In Saturday's 2-1 victory over the Lightning, the Habs jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first period on a goal by Devante Smith-Pelly. The Lightning tied it on a goal by Steven Stamkos, but P.A. Parenteau scored the winner for Montreal late in the final period.

That victory gave the Habs an opportunity to play a sixth game in Tampa on Tuesday night. If they can win that game, they will host a seventh game on Thursday.

East	Series Standings
New York Rangers vs. Washington Capitals	Wash 3-2
Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning	TB 3-2
West	Series
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Minnesota Wild	Chi 4-0
Anaheim Ducks vs. Calgary Flames	Ana 3-1

Day	Results	Series Standings
Thursday, May 7	Montreal 6, at Tampa Bay 2	TB leads 3-1
Thursday, May 7	Chicago 4, at Minnesota 3	Chicago wins 4-0
Friday, May 8	at New York Rangers 2, Washington 1 (OT)	Washington leads 2-1
Friday, May 8	Anaheim 4, at Calgary 2	Anaheim leads 3-1
Saturday, May 9	at Montreal 2, Tampa Bay 1	TB leads 3-2

Live Stream: NBC Sports 

New York Rangers at Washington Capitals

Alex Brandon/Associated Press

The Rangers were teetering on the brink of extinction Friday night. They trailed the Washington Capitals 3-1 in their series, and the Caps had taken a 1-0 lead in the third period of the low-scoring matchup on a goal by Curtis Glencross.

Late in the third period, goalie Henrik Lundqvist skated toward the Rangers bench. An instant before head coach Alain Vigneault could send an extra skater onto the ice in place of the goalie, left wing Chris Kreider scored the tying goal. The fans at Madison Square Garden exploded in a mixture of joy and relief.

That goal sent the game to overtime, and the Rangers finished the job when Ryan McDonagh snapped a shot past Capitals goalie Braden Holtby.

Was that game a temporary reprieve for the Rangers or will it springboard them to a comeback victory? They get a chance to at least partially answer that question Sunday night when they play the Caps in Game 6 of the series in Washington.

The Caps have won both of their home games in the series, and Barry Trotz wants to see his team close out the Rangers tonight.

The goaltending matchup between Holtby and Lundqvist has been stellar, and another 1-0 or 2-1 games is expected.

Prediction: Look for speedy Carl Hagelin and the Rangers to get the job done in the third period, and the Rangers will pull out a 2-1 victory and extend the series to seven games.

Calgary Flames at Anaheim Ducks

Jae C. Hong/Associated Press

The Ducks got back to business in Game 4 with a 4-2 road victory over the upstart Calgary Flames.

That win gave them a 3-1 advantage in their conference semifinal series with a chance to eliminate Calgary Sunday night at home.

The Ducks are powerful, motivated and ready to move on. The combination of Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Ryan Kesler and Jakob Silfverberg is just too much for Calgary. It will take a monumental effort for the Flames to stay close on the road, let alone win the game.

The Flames have plenty of heart with Jiri Hudler and Johnny Gaudreau leading the way, and their time will come in the future. But it won't be here and the Ducks will survive and advance.

Prediction: The Ducks jump on top early and cruise to a 6-2 win, eliminating the Flames in five games.