We've got a full slate of six games, all of which with elimination on the line. First up...
The Florida Panthers face the New York Islanders. Semyon Varlamov and Sergei Bobrovsky are the Russian goalies. New York led off in the first period with an Anthony Beauvillier goal, his second of the postseason, made possible by Josh Bailey and Brock Nelson. The Islanders added on with another Beauvillier goal, his second of the game and third of the playoffs, coming off of Mathew Barzal and Ryan Pulock. Florida got on the board with a Mike Hoffman power play goal, his third of the postseason, powered by Jonathan Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov. New York replied in the second period with a Nelson power play goal, his second of the playoffs, with assists provided by Bailey and Devon Toews. The Islanders extended the lead in the third period as Barzal scored, with the help of Jordan Eberle. New York iced it at 5-1 with a Jean-Gabriel Pageau goal, his third of the postseason, set up by Leo Komarov. The three stars were Beauvillier, Nelson, and Barzal, while Bailey gets an honorable mention. The Islanders advanced with a 3-1 series win.
Next up, the Arizona Coyotes take on the Nashville Predators. Juuse Saros and Darcy Kuemper draw the starts in goal. Arizona began in the first period with a Michael Grabner goal, his second of the postseason, assisted by Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The Coyotes added on in the second period with a Phil Kessel goal, going in unassisted. Nashville got on the board with a Matt Duchene power play goal, powered by Roman Josi and Ryan Johansen. The Predators tied it with a Viktor Arvidsson goal, his third of the playoffs, guided in by Ryan Ellis and Filip Forsberg. Arizona retook the lead in the third period with a Jordan Oesterle goal, via Ekman-Larsson and Clayton Keller. Nashville tied it on a Forsberg goal, his third of the postseason, helped along by Ellis. The Coyotes won 4-3 in overtime with a Brad Richardson goal, made possible by Jason Demers and Vinnie Hinostroza. The three stars were Kuemper (49 for 52 in saves), Ekman-Larsson, and Forsberg, while Ellis gets an honorable mention. The Coyotes won the series 3-1 to get into the Western Conference Quarterfinals.
Back east, the Montreal Canadiens oppose the Pittsburgh Penguins. Tristan Jarry is mismatched with Carey Price in goal. Montreal got going in the third period with an Artturi Lehkonen goal, coming off of Paul Byron. The Canadiens iced it at 2-0 with a Shea Weber empty net goal, his second of the postseason, going in unassisted. The three stars were Price (22 save shutout), Lehkonen, and Jarry (20 for 21 in saves). The Canadiens won the series 3-1 to advance.
In the west, the Chicago Blackhawks meet the Edmonton Oilers. Mikko Koskinen and Corey Crawford are the goalies. Edmonton opened in the first period on a Josh Archibald goal, assisted by Connor McDavid and Darnell Nurse. Chicago tied it on a Brandon Saad goal, his second of the postseason, coming off of Connor Murphy and Jonathan Toews. The Blackhawks took the lead with a Matthew Highmore goal, his second of the playoffs, fueled by Duncan Keith and Ryan Carpenter. The Oilers tied it in the second period with a Ryan Nugent-Hopkins goal, his second of the postseason, courtesy of James Neal and McDavid. Chicago took the lead in the third period with a Dominik Kubalik goal, his third of the playoffs, with a lone helper from Toews. This held for a 3-2 win, with the three stars being Crawford (43 for 45 in saves), Toews, and McDavid.
Today's east finale has the Columbus Blue Jackets versus the Toronto Maple Leafs. Frederik Andersen and Elvis Merzlikins are between the pipes. Columbus started in the first period with a Cam Atkinson goal, his second of the postseason, coming off of Pierre-Luc Dubois and the goalie Merzlikins. The Blue Jackets added on in the second period with a Vladislav Gavrikov goal, via David Savard and Alexandre Texier. Columbus extended the lead as Boone Jenner scored in the third period, thanks to Nick Foligno. Toronto got on the board with a William Nylander goal, his second of the playoffs, guided in by Zach Hyman and Mitchell Marner. The Maple Leafs got closer with a John Tavares goal, his second of the postseason, helped along by Auston Matthews and Marner. Toronto tied it as Hyman scored, with the help of Matthews and Nylander. The Maple Leafs won 4-3 in overtime with a Matthews power play goal, his second of the playoffs, powered by Tavares and Marner. This tied the series at 2, setting up a decisive Game 5 on Sunday.
Finally, the Minnesota Wild play against the Vancouver Canucks. Jacob Markstrom and Alex Stalock protect the nets. Minnesota struck first in the first period with a Luke Kunin power play goal, his second of the postseason, powered by Mats Zuccarello and Jonas Brodin. Vancouver tied it on a Tanner Pearson goal, his second of the playoffs, guided in by Bo Horvat and Christopher Tanev. The Wild retook the lead with an Eric Staal goal, coming off of Marcus Foligno and Kevin Fiala. Minnesota added on in the second period with a Joel Eriksson Ek goal, via Zach Parise and Brodin. The Canucks got one back on a Brandon Sutter goal, assisted by Quinn Hughes and Horvat. Vancouver tied it on a Hughes power play goal, with assists provided by J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson. The Wild reclaimed the lead on a Nico Sturm goal, made possible by Jared Spurgeon. The Canucks tied it in the third period on a Horvat goal, his second of the postseason, fueled by Pearson and Tanev. Vancouver won 5-4 in overtime with a Tanev goal, going in unassisted. The three stars belonged to Tanev, Horvat, and Hughes, while Pearson and Brodin get the honorable mentions. The Canucks won the series 3-1 and advanced to the Western Conference Quarterfinals.
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