There's four games on today, beginning with...
The Boston Bruins hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ilya Samsonov and Linus Ullmark are the masked men. Boston opened in the first period with a Morgan Geekie power play goal, powered by Brad Marchand and Jake DeBrusk. Toronto tied it on a Max Domi goal, via Auston Matthews. The Bruins pulled ahead with a David Pastrnak goal, courtesy of Pavel Zacha and Charlie McAvoy. The Maple Leafs tied it in the second period with a John Tavares power play goal, with assists provided by Matthews and Tyler Bertuzzi. Toronto took the lead in the third period with a Matthews goal, passed from Domi and Ilya Lyubushkin. This held for a 3-2 win, with the three stars going to Matthews, Domi, and Samsonov (27 for 29 in saves). The series heads to Toronto tied at 1.
Down in Raleigh, the Carolina Hurricanes welcome the New York Islanders. Semyon Varlamov and Frederik Andersen protect the nets. New York started in the first period with a Kyle Palmieri goal, via Mike Reilly and Brock Nelson. The Islanders added on with a Bo Horvat goal, coming off of Mathew Barzal and Casey Cizikas. New York extended the lead on an Anders Lee power play goal, powered by Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Pierre Engvall. Carolina got on the board with a Teuvo Teravainen power play goal, assisted by Jake Guentzel and Seth Jarvis. The Hurricanes got closer in the second period with a Jarvis goal, fueled by Jordan Staal and Brady Skjei. Carolina tied it as Sebastian Aho scored, thanks to Andrei Svechnikov and Jarvis. The Hurricanes pulled ahead with a Jordan Martinook goal, guided in by Jack Drury. Carolina iced it at 5-3 with an empty net goal by Guentzel, set up by Aho and Svechnikov. The three stars were Jarvis, Aho, and Guentzel, while Svechnikov gets an honorable mention. The Hurricanes leave home ahead 2-0 in the series.
Along to Dallas, as the Stars bring in the Vegas Golden Knights. Logan Thompson and Jake Oettinger are between the pipes. Vegas led off in the first period with a Mark Stone power play goal, powered by Noah Hanifin and Jack Eichel. The Golden Knights added on with a Jonathan Marchessault goal, via Ivan Barbashev. Dallas got on the board with a Jamie Benn goal, guided in by Wyatt Johnston. Vegas shot back on a Tomas Hertl power play goal, with a lone helper from Hanifin. The Stars pulled one back with a Jason Robertson goal, helped along by Logan Stankoven. The Golden Knights fired back in the second period with a Brayden McNabb goal, courtesy of Eichel. Dallas got closer with a Mason Marchment goal in the third period, helped along by Miro Heiskanen and the goalie Oettinger. This only made it 4-3, the final, with the three stars going to Eichel, Hanifin, and Hertl. The Golden Knights claimed a 1-0 series lead.
Finally, the Edmonton Oilers host the Los Angeles Kings. Cam Talbot and Stuart Skinner guard the cages. Edmonton began in the first period with a Zach Hyman goal, coming off of Connor McDavid and Evan Bouchard. The Oilers added on with an Adam Henrique goal, guided in by Hyman and Bouchard. Edmonton extended the lead in the second period as Hyman scored again, with the help of McDavid and Henrique. The Oilers padded the lead with a Ryan Nugent-Hopkins power play goal, powered by Leon Draisaitl and McDavid. Los Angeles got on the board with a Mikey Anderson goal, via Drew Doughty and Viktor Arvidsson. The Kings got closer with an Adrian Kempe goal, helped along by Quinton Byfield. Edmonton replied in the third period with a Draisaitl power play goal, with helpers from McDavid and Bouchard. The Oilers continued with a Hyman power play goal, completing his hat trick with assists provided by McDavid and Bouchard. Los Angeles fired back with a Pierre-Luc Dubois goal, made possible by Kempe. The Kings got another on a Trevor Moore goal, fueled by Alex Laferriere. Edmonton iced it at 7-4 with a Warren Foegele empty net goal, going in unassisted. The three stars were Hyman, McDavid, and Bouchard, while Draisaitl, Henrique, and Kempe get the honorable mentions. The Oilers lead the series 1-0.
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