Four games on today, and they start early with...
The Tampa Bay Lightning hosting the Florida Panthers. Sergei Bobrovsky and Andrei Vasilevskiy are the Russian goalies. Tampa Bay led off in the first period with an Anthony Cirelli goal, his second of the postseason, courtesy of Alex Killorn and Erik Cernak. The Lightning added on with a Yanni Gourde goal, his second of the playoffs, via Nikita Kucherov and Mikhail Sergachev. Florida got on the board with a Jonathan Huberdeau power play goal, his second of the postseason, powered by Patric Hornqvist and Sam Bennett. Tampa Bay replied with an Ondrej Palat goal, his second of the playoffs, guided in by Cernak and Kucherov. The Lightning extended the lead as Killorn scored his second of the postseason on the power play, with the help of Kucherov and Victor Hedman in the second period. Tampa Bay padded the lead on another Killorn goal, his second of the game and third of the playoffs, assisted by Steven Stamkos and Cirelli. The Panthers got one back with a Carter Verhaeghe power play goal, his second of the postseason, with assists provided by Aleksander Barkov and Huberdeau. The Lightning responded in the third period with a Kucherov power play goal, his third of the playoffs, with helpers from Stamkos and Killorn. This stood for a 6-2 win, with the three stars going to Killorn, Kucherov, and Cirelli, while Stamkos, Verhaeghe, and Cernak get the honorable mentions. The Lightning leave home carrying a 3-1 series lead.
In New York, the Islanders welcome the Pittsburgh Penguins. Tristan Jarry and Ilya Sorokin play in the blue paint. New York got going in the second period with a Josh Bailey goal, his second of the postseason, courtesy of Brock Nelson and Anthony Beauvillier. The Islanders added on with a Ryan Pulock goal, via Oliver Wahlstrom and Nick Leddy. New York extended the lead in the third period as Wahlstrom scored a power play goal, with the help of Mathew Barzal and Pulock. The Islanders padded the lead on a Jordan Eberle power play goal, powered by Barzal and Jean-Gabriel Pageau. Pittsburgh got on the board with a shorthanded Zach Aston-Reese goal, set up by Brian Dumoulin. This only made it 4-1, the final, with the three stars going to Pulock, Wahlstrom, and Barzal. The series is tied at 2-2 heading back to Pittsburgh.
Up in Canada, the Toronto Maple Leafs bring in the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and Jack Campbell are between the pipes. Montreal began in the first period with a Jesperi Kotkaniemi goal, coming off of Joel Armia and Tyler Toffoli. Toronto tied it on a Jason Spezza goal, via Zach Bogosian. The Maple Leafs took the lead in the second period with an Auston Matthews goal, assisted by Justin Holl and Mitchell Marner. Toronto added on with a Rasmus Sandin power play goal, powered by Marner and Matthews. The Maple Leafs extended the lead in the third period as William Nylander scored his second of the postseason, thanks to Matthews and Morgan Rielly. Toronto iced it at 5-1 with an Alexander Kerfoot empty net goal, set up by Nylander. The three stars were Matthews, Nylander, and Marner. The Maple Leafs have tied the series at 1-1 heading to Montreal.
Finally, the Minnesota Wild host the Vegas Golden Knights. Marc-Andre Fleury and Cam Talbot are the masked men. Vegas kicked off the scoring in the first period with a Nicolas Roy goal, fueled by Keegan Kolesar. The Golden Knights added on in the second period with an Alex Tuch goal, his third of the postseason, guided in by Chandler Stephenson and Zach Whitecloud. Vegas extended the lead on an unassisted shorthanded goal by Mark Stone, his third of the playoffs. The Golden Knights padded the lead with a Roy empty net goal in the third period, set up by Mattias Janmark and Kolesar. This made it 4-0, the final, with the three stars going to Fleury (35 save shutout), Roy, and Kolesar. The Golden Knights return home with a 3-1 series lead and three chances to advance.
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