Predators survive Avalanche’s third-period comeback bid
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Ryan Hartman's emptynet goal with 1:09 left wound up the gamewinner as the Nashville Predators held off the Colorado Avalanche 5-4 on Saturday for a 2-0 lead in their first-round Western Conference series.
Hartman's goal gave the Predators a 5-3 lead until Alexander Kerfoot pulled Colorado within 5-4 with 35.8 seconds left. But the Avalanche couldn't get another puck past goalie Pekka Rinne.
Nasvhille started slowly, giving up a goal on Colorado's first shot for a second straight game. Yet the Predators rallied again to take their first 2-0 lead when starting a best-of-seven series in their building.
Kevin Fiala had a goal and an assist and Viktor Arvidsson, Ryan Johansen and Austin Watson scored a goal apiece. P.K. Subban and Mattias Ekholm each had two assists for Nashville, which has won 12 straight over the Avalanche. BRUINS 7, MAPLE LEAFS 3
David Pastrnak had a hat trick and three assists to help Boston blow out visiting Toronto for the second straight game, leading to a 2-0 lead in the first-round playoff series.
Pastrnak shattered his previous career high of four points, scoring his third goal with 1:36 left. Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron each had four assists, and Torey Krug had three.
Tuukka Rask stopped 30 shots for Boston, and David Krejci, Rick Nash, Jake DeBrusk and Kevan Miller also scored. LIGHTNING 5, DEVILS 3
Alex Killorn scored twice during a four-goal second period, helping host Tampa Bay, the top seed in the Eastern Conference, beat New Jersey to go up 2-0 in the bestof-seven series.
The Atlantic Division champions scored three times in a 2:47 span in the second period, and the reeling Devils pulled goalie Keith Kinkaid after Killorn's third goal in two games made it 5-1 with 6:48 remaining in the period.
Kinkaid, whose stellar play since January helped New Jersey finish strong and claim its first playoff berth since 2012, yielded five goals on 15 shots and was replaced by Cory Schneider.
From wire reports