Bruins slip past Hurricanes in a mere 2 OTs
TORONTO — After being told to come back the next morning because another game lasted five overtimes, the Boston Bruins didn’t want to repeat history so quickly.
“We talked about trying to end this before the fifth overtime,” Patrice Bergeron said.
Bergeron accomplished that by scoring early in double overtime, and the Bruins beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 Wednesday in Game 1 of their firstround series that was postponed 15 hours to a rare late-morning start.
The game scheduled for 8 p.m. Tuesday night began the next morning at 11 after the Columbus Blue Jackets-Tampa Bay Lightning series opener became the fourth-longest playoff game in NHL history.
“We knew it was a possibility,“said Bergeron, whose four playoff OT goals are the second-most behind Patrick Kane among active players.
Hurricanes-Bruins Game 1 wasn’t the same marathon, with Bergeron scoring 1:13 into the second extra period. But it had plenty of theater, includinga controversial goal and video review.
Coach Rod Brind’Amour unsuccessfully challenged what the Hurricanes thought was a missed hand pass by Boston’s Brett Ritchie on Charlie Coyle’s second-period goal.
“This is why the league’s a joke, in my opinion, on these things,” Brind’Amour said. “That one is a crime scene.”
The NHL fined Brind’Amour $25,000 for the comments, and said that he also was given a conditional fine of $25,000 that will be collected, in addition to any subsequent discipline, in the event of similar inappropriate behavior in the next year.
ISLANDERS 4, CAPITALS 2
Josh Bailey scored a shorthanded goal 6:52 into the third period and New York overcame a two-goal deficit to beat Washington in a hard-hitting opener to the first-round playoff series at Toronto.
Jordan Eberle and Anders Lee scored 1:54 apart spanning the second intermission. Anthony Beauvillier sealed it by scoring with 8:05 remaining in a game the Islanders overcame their own lack of discipline in allowing the Capitals seven power-play opportunities.
T.J. Oshie scored on consecutive power-play opportunities five minutes apart in the second period for Washington.
AVALANCHE 3, COYOTES 0
Nazem Kadri and J.T. Compher scored 10 seconds apart in the third period, Philipp Grubauer stopped 14 shots and Colorado opened the playoffs with a victory over Arizona at Edmonton, Alberta.
Kadri broke a scoreless tie by punching in a rebound on a power play with 7 minutes left. Compher scored on a backhanded rebound and Mikko Rantanen made it three goals in 1:23.
FLYERS 2, CANADIENS 1
Carter Hart made 27 saves, Joel Farabee scored 16 seconds after Montreal tied it, and Philadelphia won Game 1 of their series at Toronto.
Ivan Provorov also scored for the Flyers.
CANUCKS 5, BLUES 2
Troy Stecher broke a third-period tie and Bo Horvat added an insurance goal for his second of the game as Vancouver won Game 1 at Edmonton.