NHL

Best hockey night ever? Three thrilling Game 7s on tap

NHL fans have hit the jackpot.

For the first time since April 22, 2003, there will be three Game 7s on the same night. It’s win or go home. Here’s a guide to an evening that’s as good as it gets in hockey:

Wild at Avalanche

9:30, CNBC

The setup: The home team has held serve in every game. But the Wild held late leads in Games 1 and 5 on the road before the Avalanche tied each game with their goalie pulled and won in overtime. Minnesota is looking to win a playoff series for the first time since 2003, and Colorado hasn’t advanced past the first round since 2008.

Everyone’s talked about 18-year old Nathan MacKinnon, and rightfully so. He’s been a force for Colorado. But so has Zach Parise of the Wild, who is tied with MacKinnon for the playoff lead with 10 points. Parise had four points in Game 6 as the Wild won, 5-2.

Strange but true: In 2003, the Wild and Avalanche played in Game 7 in the first round of the playoffs. The Wild won in Denver, 3-2 in overtime. Current Avs coach Patrick Roy was the team’s goalie then and you can bet he still has nightmares about that one and would love revenge in his first series as a head coach.

Players to watch: For the Avalanche, MacKinnon has been the big story, but let’s not forget Paul Stastny, who leads the team with four goals. He has a game-tying and game-winning goal in the series. The Wild’s Jason Pominville — on a scoring streak of four games — knows how to score big goals with 26 career game-winners, including five this season.

Prediction: MacKinnon only gets two points, but the Avalanche hang on for a 4-3 win, setting up a date with the defending champion Blackhawks.

Kings at Sharks

10:00, NBCSN

The setup: Many thought this would be the best series of the first round and would go the distance. Well, it has, and we could see history. The Kings are trying to become the fourth hockey team to come back from a 3-0 series deficit, a feat most recently achieved by the Flyers in 2010. LA still has the core of the team that won the Stanley Cup in 2012.

San Jose Sharks center Patrick Marleau will be in the middle of things.AP

The Sharks raced out to a 3-0 series lead, dominating in Games 1 and 2 at home (outscoring the Kings 13-5) before an overtime win in Game 3. The Kings responded by winning the next three games, each by three goals. The division rivals have met in the playoffs three of the past four seasons, including last season’s second-round, seven-game Kings victory. The home team won every game in that series.

Players to watch: The spotlight is always on the goalies, so Jonathan Quick will be key for the Kings. The Sharks haven’t announced a starter yet, but Antii Niemi — who did not play in Game 6 — is the team’s starter and won the Cup in 2010 with the Blackhawks, so expect him to be in between the pipes. Jeff Carter has a point in nine of the Kings’ past 10 playoff games, and Patrick Marleau leads the Sharks with seven points.

Prediction: The Sharks are notorious for choking in the playoffs, but this is why you play the whole season to get that Game 7 at home. San Jose went 29-7-5 at SAP Center during the regular season and has won two of the three home games in this series. They’ve had three bad games in a row, but expect them to get on the board early and win this one handily. 5-2 Sharks win and advance to face the Ducks.

Flyers at Rangers

7:00, MSG

Henrik LundqvistPaul J. Bereswill

The setup: Rangers win, then Flyers win. Repeat three times. Game 7 is necessary. That pretty much sums it up. The Blueshirts were unable to put together back-to-back wins. The past 12 times the Rangers have led a series, they’ve failed to win the next game, dating back to 2009. Good news for the Rangers: They boast a 5-0 record in Game 7s at MSG.

Players to watch: Rick Nash doesn’t have a goal and hasn’t registered a point in the past three games. The Rangers will need more from him if they are to advance. Henrik Lundqvist was pulled in Game 6, so how he responds in Game 7 will be key. Wayne Simmonds torched the Ranges for a hat trick in Game 6. The Rangers have allowed six power-play goals on 19 chances (68.4 percent), which ranks second-to-last for all playoff teams, so they would be wise to stay out of the box.

Prediction: The alternating pattern of wins and losses continues for the Rangers, who advance with a nail-biting 3-1 victory.