Wednesday`s NHL playoff action featured significant wins: the Toronto Maple Leafs secured a hard-fought victory over the Florida Panthers to establish a 2-0 series lead, while the Dallas Stars narrowly defeated the Winnipeg Jets in the opening game of their series.
Toronto`s seasoned forward lines proved challenging for Florida`s goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. The teams exchanged goals throughout the contest. The Maple Leafs gained a 3-2 advantage after the second period, courtesy of a late goal scored by Max Domi.
Early in the third period, Panthers forward Anton Lundell tied the game at 3 with a remarkable play, guiding the puck from his skate into the open net. However, Toronto quickly responded just 17 seconds later when Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner`s shot somehow went high over Bobrovsky`s blocker, putting Toronto ahead for good.
In Winnipeg, the Stars took the series lead against the Jets. Nino Niederreiter initially scored for Winnipeg in the second period. However, this was followed by a dominant performance from Mikko Rantanen, the Stars` winger, who netted three consecutive goals in the same period to complete a natural hat trick. His final goal, credited to him despite being a tipped pass by Jets defenseman Dylan Samberg, marked Rantanen`s second consecutive game achieving a hat trick.
Rantanen`s stellar performance earned him recognition among the 3 Stars of the Night, highlighting the best individual efforts across the Stanley Cup Playoffs games.
Looking ahead, Thursday`s playoff schedule includes the Washington Capitals aiming to even their series against the Carolina Hurricanes, and the Vegas Golden Knights hosting the Edmonton Oilers for Game 2.
- Round 2 Schedule & Results
- (1) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (3) Florida Panthers
- (1) Washington Capitals vs. (2) Carolina Hurricanes
- (1) Winnipeg Jets vs. (2) Dallas Stars
- (1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (3) Edmonton Oilers
- Round 1 Results
- (1) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (WC1) Ottawa Senators
- (2) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (3) Florida Panthers
- (1) Washington Capitals vs. (WC2) Montreal Canadiens
- (2) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (3) New Jersey Devils
- (1) Winnipeg Jets vs. (WC2) St. Louis Blues
- (2) Dallas Stars vs. (3) Colorado Avalanche
- (1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (WC1) Minnesota Wild
- (2) Los Angeles Kings vs. (3) Edmonton Oilers
Round 2 Schedule & Results
(1) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (3) Florida Panthers
Game 1: Maple Leafs 5, Panthers 4
Game 2: Maple Leafs 4, Panthers 3
Game 3: Friday, May 9 | 7 p.m. | at FLA | TNT/truTV/Max
Game 4: Sunday, May 11 | 7:30 p.m. | at FLA | TBS/truTV/Max
*Game 5: Wednesday, May 14 | TBD | at TOR | ESPN
*Game 6: Friday, May 16 | TBD | at FLA | TNT/truTV/Max
*Game 7: Sunday, May 18 | TBD | at TOR | TNT/Max
(1) Washington Capitals vs. (2) Carolina Hurricanes
Game 1: Hurricanes 2, Capitals 1 (OT)
Game 2: Thursday, May 8 | 7 p.m. | at WSH | ESPN
Game 3: Saturday, May 10 | 6 p.m. | at CAR | TNT/truTV/Max
Game 4: Monday, May 12 | 7 p.m. | at CAR | TNT/truTV/Max
*Game 5: Thursday, May 15 | TBD | at WSH | TNT/truTV/Max
*Game 6: Saturday, May 17 | TBD | at CAR | TBD
*Game 7: Monday, May 19 | TBD | at WSH | ESPN
(1) Winnipeg Jets vs. (2) Dallas Stars
Game 1: Stars 3, Jets 2
Game 2: Friday, May 9 | 9:30 p.m. | at WPG | TNT/truTV/Max
Game 3: Saturday, May 11 | 4:30 p.m. | at DAL | TBS/truTV/Max
Game 4: Tuesday, May 13 | 8 p.m. | at DAL | ESPN
*Game 5: Thursday, May 15 | TBD | at Jets | TNT/truTV/Max
*Game 6: Saturday, May 17 | TBD | at DAL | TBD
*Game 7: Monday, May 19 | TBD | at WPG | ESPN
(1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (3) Edmonton Oilers
Game 1: Oilers 4, Golden Knights 2
Game 2: Thursday, May 8 | 9:30 p.m. | at VGK | ESPN
Game 3: Saturday, May 10 | 9 p.m. | at EDM | TNT/truTV/Max
Game 4: Monday, May 12 | 9:30 | at EDM | TNT/truTV/Max
*Game 5: Wednesday, May 14 | TBD | at VGK | ESPN
*Game 6: Friday, May 16 | TBD | at EDM | TNT/truTV/Max
*Game 7: Sunday, May 18 | TBD | at VGK | TNT/Max
Round 1 Results
(1) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (WC1) Ottawa Senators
Game 1: Maple Leafs 6, Senators 2
Game 2: Maple Leafs 3, Senators 2 (OT)
Game 3: Maple Leafs 3, Senators 2 (OT)
Game 4: Senators 4, Maple Leafs 3 (OT)
Game 5: Senators 4, Maple Leafs 0
Game 6: Maple Leafs 4, Senators 2
(2) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (3) Florida Panthers
Game 1: Panthers 6, Lightning 2
Game 2: Panthers 2, Lightning 0
Game 3: Lightning 5, Panthers 1
Game 4: Panthers 4, Lightning 2
Game 5: Panthers 6, Lightning 3
(1) Washington Capitals vs. (WC2) Montreal Canadiens
Game 1: Capitals 3, Canadiens 2 (OT)
Game 2: Capitals 3, Canadiens 1
Game 3: Canadiens 6, Capitals 3
Game 4: Capitals 5, Canadiens 2
Game 5: Capitals 4, Canadiens 1
(2) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (3) New Jersey Devils
Game 1: Hurricanes 4, Devils 1
Game 2: Hurricanes 3, Devils 1
Game 3: Devils 3, Hurricanes 2 (2OT)
Game 4: Hurricanes 5, Devils 2
Game 5: Hurricanes 5, Devils 4 (2OT)
(1) Winnipeg Jets vs. (WC2) St. Louis Blues
Game 1: Jets 5, Blues 3
Game 2: Jets 2, Blues 1
Game 3: Blues 7, Jets 2
Game 4: Blues 5, Jets 1
Game 5: Jets 5, Blues 3
Game 6: Blues 5, Jets 2
Game 7: Jets 4, Blues 3 (2OT)
(2) Dallas Stars vs. (3) Colorado Avalanche
Game 1: Avalanche 5, Stars 1
Game 2: Stars 4, Avalanche 3 (OT)
Game 3: Stars 2, Avalanche 1 (OT)
Game 4: Avalanche 4, Stars 0
Game 5: Stars 6, Avalanche 2
Game 6: Avalanche 7, Stars 4
Game 7: Stars 4, Avalanche 2
(1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (WC1) Minnesota Wild
Game 1: Golden Knights 4, Wild 2
Game 2: Wild 5, Golden Knights 2
Game 3: Wild 5, Golden Knights 2
Game 4: Golden Knights 4, Wild 3 (OT)
Game 5: Golden Knights 3, Wild 2 (OT)
Game 6: Golden Knights 3, Wild 2
(2) Los Angeles Kings vs. (3) Edmonton Oilers
Game 1: Kings 6, Oilers 5
Game 2: Kings 6, Oilers 2
Game 3: Oilers 7, Kings 4
Game 4: Oilers 4, Kings 3 (OT)
Game 5: Oilers 3, Kings 1
Game 6: Oilers 6, Kings 4
