It's a four-game Saturday, beginning with...
The New York Islanders hosting the Carolina Hurricanes. Frederik Andersen and Semyon Varlamov protect the nets. Carolina started in the first period with a Seth Jarvis power play goal, his second of the postseason, powered by Jake Guentzel. New York tied it on a Mathew Barzal goal, via Adam Pelech and Bo Horvat in the second period. The Islanders pulled ahead with a Jean-Gabriel Pageau power play goal, with assists provided by Noah Dobson and Anders Lee. The Hurricanes retied it on a Stefan Noesen power play goal, his second of the playoffs, passed from Teuvo Teravainen and Martin Necas. New York won 3-2 in double overtime on a Barzal goal, his second of the game, assisted by Robert Bortuzzo and Horvat. The three stars were Barzal, Horvat, and Pageau. The Hurricanes will head home up 3-1 in the series.
Down in Tampa Bay, the Lightning welcome the Florida Panthers. Sergei Bobrovsky and Andrei Vasilevskiy tend the twines. Tampa Bay opened in the first period with a Steven Stamkos power play goal, his fourth of the postseason, powered by Brayden Point and Brandon Hagel. The Lightning added on with a Hagel shorthanded goal, his second of the playoffs, set up by Victor Hedman. Tampa Bay extended the lead as Point scored his second of the postseason, thanks to Nikita Kucherov and Hedman. Florida got on the board in the second period with a Carter Verhaeghe goal, his third of the playoffs, guided in by Matthew Tkachuk and Anton Lundell. The Lightning answered with a Hagel goal, his second of the game and third of the postseason, via Mikhail Sergachev and Anthony Cirelli. The Panthers got one back with a Sam Reinhart goal, his third of the playoffs, courtesy of Brandon Montour and Tkachuk. Florida pulled closer with an Oliver Ekman-Larsson goal, coming off of Evan Rodrigues and Eetu Luostarinen. Tampa Bay replied with a Stamkos goal, his second of the game and fifth of the postseason, with helpers from Kucherov and Point. The Lightning padded the lead on a Nick Paul power play goal, his second of the playoffs, with assists provided by Kucherov and Hedman. The final held at 6-3, with the three stars given to Stamkos, Hagel, and Point, while Hedman, Kucherov, and Tkachuk get the honorable mentions. The Panthers are still ahead 3-1 in the series.
Back north, the Toronto Maple Leafs bring in the Boston Bruins. Jeremy Swayman and Ilya Samsonov are in the blue paint. Boston led off in the first period with a James van Riemsdyk goal, via Mason Lohrei. The Bruins added on with a Brad Marchand power play goal in the second period, his third of the postseason, powered by Charlie McAvoy and Charlie Coyle. Boston extended the lead as David Pastrnak scored his second of the playoffs, thanks to Marchand and Pavel Zacha. Joseph Woll replaced Samsonov in goal. Toronto got on the board in the third period with a Mitchell Marner goal, coming off of Ilya Lyubushkin and Tyler Bertuzzi. The final stood at 3-1, with the three stars being Marchand, Swayman (25 for 26 in saves), and Pastrnak. The Bruins head home leading the series 3-1.
Finally, the Vegas Golden Knights host the Dallas Stars. Jake Oettinger and Logan Thompson are between the pipes. Dallas began in the first period with a Wyatt Johnston goal, courtesy of Jason Robertson and Miro Heiskanen. The Stars added on in the second period with a Heiskanen goal, via Tyler Seguin and Evgenii Dadonov. Vegas got on the board with a Brayden McNabb goal, his second of the postseason, passed from Chandler Stephenson. The Golden Knights tied it with a shorthanded Jack Eichel goal, his second of the playoffs, set up by McNabb. Dallas won 3-2 in overtime with another Johnston goal, coming off of Robertson and Ryan Suter. The three stars were Johnston, Heiskanen, and McNabb, while Robertson gets an honorable mention. The Golden Knights are still ahead 2-1 in the series.
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