NHL Playoff Bracket 2018: Wednesday TV and Live-Stream Schedule

The two games taking place Wednesday in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs come at pivotal points in each series.

The Boston Bruins return home for Game 3 against the Tampa Bay Lightning with the series tied 1-1 thanks to a 6-2 victory in Game 1 at Amalie Arena.

Vegas has an opportunity to stretch its advantage over San Jose to two games before it goes back to T-Mobile Arena where it could clinch a spot in the Western Conference final in Game 5.

However, if Tampa Bay and San Jose win their respective games Wednesday, it changes the complexion of each series even more, as the Lightning would have a leg up on Boston with an away win and the Sharks would level the series with the Golden Knights at two games apiece.

Wednesday Stanley Cup Playoffs Schedule 

Game 3: Tampa Bay at Boston (7 p.m., NBCSN) (Series tied 1-1)

Game 4: Vegas at San Jose (10 p.m., NBCSN) (Vegas leads series 2-1) 

All Times ET. 

Games can be live-streamed on NBC Sports Live and NBC Sports App.

Can Brayden Point Continue To Be Tampa Bay's X-Factor?

Lightning center Brayden Point was the standout star of Game 2, as he produced one goal and three assists and helped contain Boston's top line.

Point leads Tampa Bay with five points from a goal and four assists in the first two games of the series in which Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos haven't contributed a single point between them. 

Although Point emerged as a key figure in Game 2 after struggling in Game 1, his teammates know exactly what the 22-year-old brings to the ice, as right winger Ryan Callahan noted, per the team's official Twitter account:

Point's ability to bounce back from a brutal Game 1 in which the Boston line of center Patrice Bergeron, left winger Brad Marchand and right winger David Pastrnak played a role in five of the six Boston goals is huge for the Lightning entering enemy territory Wednesday.

If Point's line once again limits Boston's top line from scoring, Tampa Bay gains the upper hand in the series and takes back the game it lost at home.

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Although Marchand and Bergeron were still able to impact Game 2 with assists, the chances created by Boston's most dangerous line were more sporadic, as the pair of strikes occurred in the first and third periods, respectively.

At some point, Kucherov and Stamkos must put their names on the scoresheet, whether it be through goals or assists, and if that occurs in Game 3, it allows Point to focus more on the defensive side of the puck.

If that happens Wednesday, Point could turn into the most important player on the ice, as Tampa Bay looks to take home ice advantage away from their Atlantic Division counterpart.

Another Tight Affair Expected Between Vegas, San Jose

After Vegas' 7-0 blowout in Game 1, the Golden Knights and Sharks have played three overtime periods with a 4-3 result going in each team's favor.

The Golden Knights looked past their Game 2 defeat at home, which was their first of the postseason, and survived a late Sharks equalizer to win in the extra period in Game 3.

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Avoiding emotional highs and lows and remaining as calm as possible is a key for Vegas head coach Gerard Gallant, as he said Tuesday, per Gary Lawless of the team's official website.

"You're going to have some highs in hockey games and you're going to have some lows. It could go from shift to shift," Gallant said. "Forget about what's happened in the past and you move forward. That's what makes you control. Control going forward and playing good hockey. What happened on the last shift, you can't worry about that."

Looking ahead at Game 4, the Golden Knights expect to receive the same high level of production from center William Karlsson, who has three goals and four assists against the Sharks.

The 25-year-old Swede's performance is an extension of his regular-season form versus San Jose, when he had four goals and an assist in four meetings with the Sharks.

Containing Karlsson is just one of the tasks at hand for the Sharks, who deserve credit for responding so well to their demoralizing Game 1 defeat.

Although the Sharks are down a game and must win at home Wednesday, they feel like they've been playing much better, as center Joe Pavelski said after Game 3, per the team's official Twitter account:

Eleven different players have contributed to a San Jose goal through three games, with defenseman Brent Burns leading the way with four points.

If the well-rounded Sharks offense continues to create chances in front of Vegas goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, they should be able to score more goals in Game 4, but the key lies on defense, where they must find a way to stop Karlsson in what is expected to be another tight clash.

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.

Statistics obtained from Hockey Reference.