Jets overcome key injuries to beat Flames
Nikolaj Ehlers scored a third-period power-play goal to give the Jets a 3-2 win over the Flames on Monday and even their qualifying-round series at a game apiece.
The Jets were forced into wholesale line changes in the absence of centers Mark Scheifele and Mason Appleton and winger Patrik Laine. Playing without three regulars only served as inspiration for the Jets.
“It was a special time for our team to rally,” coach Paul Maurice said. “I’m proud that we won the game in the manner that we did with the injuries that we had because it will give the people that are not familiar to our season a little glimpse of what we’ve been doing all year.”
For the Jets, Adam Lowry had a goal and an assist, Jansen Harkins scored and Jack Roslovic had two assists. Vezina Trophy finalist Connor Hellebuyck made 28 saves.
Elias Lindholm and Sam Bennett scored for the Flames. Cam Talbot made 23 saves.
The teams have 24 hours to recover for Game 3 on Tuesday in Edmonton. Winnipeg will be the home team for the first time in the series.
Hurricanes 4, Rangers 1
Andrei Svechnikov tallied the first postseason hat trick in franchise history as the Hurricanes beat the Rangers to take a 2-0 lead in the Stanley Cup qualifier series. Svechnikov beat Henrik Lundqvist for the game’s first goal less than five minutes in. He followed with a power-play one-timer early in the second, then buried the third at 14:02 of the third. Sebastian Aho assisted on all three goals.
This and that
Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask returned to practice after being quarantined for two days as a precaution against COVID-19, and he could play against the Lightning on Wednesday in a round-robin game. Rask said he had a cough and had to have two negative tests before he could return.
Canucks forward Micheal Ferland was fined $5,000, the maximum allowed under the collective-bargaining agreement, for spearing and Wild forward Luke Kunin was fined $1,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct for their actions during Game 1 of the teams’ qualifier series Sunday.