Sharks rout Ducks for 3-0 series edge
Marcus Sorensen and Joonas Donskoi both collected one goal and one assist during a four-goal second period that led the San Jose Sharks to a 8-1 thrashing of the visiting Anaheim Ducks on Monday night.
San Jose, which benefited from a 45-save performance by goalie Martin Jones, holds a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference opening-round playoff series. The Sharks will look to sweep the series Wednesday night on home ice.
Eric Fehr and Tomas Hertl also tallied during the second period as the Sharks blew open what was a tied game. Donskoi and Logan Couture each finished with a goal and two assists, and Timo Meier, Evander Kane and Joe Pavelski had a goal and an assist apiece.
Rickard Rakell scored for the Ducks, who pulled goalie John Gibson after he allowed five goals on 24 shots.
Maple Leafs 4, Bruins 2
Patrick Marleau’s first two goals of the Stanley Cup playoffs helped host Toronto get back into its Eastern Conference quarterfinals series with a win over Boston.
James van Riemsdyk and Auston Matthews also scored goals for the Maple Leafs, who trail the best-of-seven series 2-1. Toronto goalie Frederik Andersen, who was pulled in the first period of Game 2 after giving up three goals on five shots, finished with 40 saves.
Adam McQuaid and Zdeno Chara each had his first goal of the series for Boston. Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask made 26 saves in defeat.
The Maple Leafs went 1-for-1 on the power play while holding the Bruins scoreless on one attempt. Toronto is 2-for8 on the series with the extra man while Boston is 5-for-11.
Boston’s top line of Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak and Patrice Bergeron was held scoreless after totaling 20 points over the first two games of the series.
Avalanche 5, Predators 3
Nathan MacKinnon scored two goals, while Blake Comeau, Gabriel Bourque and Gabriel Landeskog added markers as Colorado roared out to a 4-0 lead en route to a win over Nashville in Denver.
The result cut Nashville’s series lead to 2-1. The Avalanche ended a 12-game losing streak to the Predators that dated back to April 2016.
Ryan Johansen, Colton Sissons, Austin Watson scored for the Predators.
Devils 5, Lightning 2
Taylor Hall produced a goal and two assists as New Jersey rallied for a victory over visiting Tampa Bay. The Devils will get a chance to even the series in Game 4 at home on Wednesday.
Hall became the first Devil to record a three-point postseason game since Zach Parise in 2012.
Goalie Cory Schneider made 34 saves as the Devils opted to use him after he stopped 10 shots in relief of Keith Kinkaid in Game 2.