Surgery possible for Capitals’ Backstrom, Wilson

Anyone who complains there aren’t enough great teams in the NHL hasn’t watched enough Lightning games lately.

Connor McDavid recorded his first playoff hat trick to lead the Edmonton Oilers to a 6-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, tying their best-of-five qualifying series at one game apiece. McDavid scored 19 seconds into the game, then off an electrifying solo rush just past the four-minute mark, and once more on the power play late in the second period on Monday night. Given that the rink was fan-free, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, arena staff hustled down the stairs and honored hockey tradition by tossing ball caps over the glass and onto the ice to mark the hat trick.

Both Dallas and Montreal are looking to snap out of their early-season funks and make a move in the standings.