NHL | Playoff results | Thursday
Maple Leafs 7, Lighting 2 Series tied 1-1
TORONTO — John Tavares had his first playoff hat trick and the Toronto Maple Leafs rebounded from a poor playoff start with a lopsided 7-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning to even the teams’ first-round playoff series at a game apiece.
Mitch Marner had two goals and an assist, William Nylander added a goal and an assist, and Zach AstonReese also scored for Toronto.
Morgan Rielly tied a franchise record with four assists. Auston Matthews also had two assists for the Maple Leafs, whose stars stepped up. Ilya Samsonov made 20 saves for Toronto after being pulled in Tuesday’s 7-3 loss.
Ian Cole and Corey Perry scored for the Lightning, who were without injured defensemen Victor Hedman and Erik Cernak. Andrei Vasilevskiy, who has played every minute of Lightning postseason action since 2020, allowed seven goals on 37 shots.
The series shifts to Florida, where Games 3 and 4 of the best-of-seven set are scheduled for Saturday and Monday.
Rangers 5, Devils 1 New York leads series 2-0
NEWARK, N.J. — Chris Kreider scored two power-play goals in a three-goal second period and New York stunned New Jersey to a take a 2-0 lead on the road in their firstround playoff series.
Patrick Kane added a goal and two assists and fellow trade deadline acquisition Vladimir Tarasenko scored for the second straight game as the Rangers again had their way with the young Devils.
Kaapo Kakko also scored and Adam Fox added two more assists to give him six in two games. Igor Shesterkin had a relatively easy night, making 21 saves.
Erik Haula scored for New Jersey. Vitek Vanecek finished with 26 saves in a game that got one-sided and chippy late.
The best-of-seven series shifts across the Hudson River to Madison Square Garden for Games 3 and 4 on Friday and Sunday, respectively.
Avalanche 3, Kraken 2 Series tied 1-1
DENVER — Devon Toews scored with 7:01 remaining to complete Colorado’s rally from two goals down as the Avalanche beat Seattle to even the first-round series at a game apiece.
Trailing 2-0 in the second period, Artturi Lehkonen and Valeri Nichushkin scored 48 seconds apart to tie the game. It set the stage for Toews, who knocked in a rebound for the defending Stanley Cup champions. Alexandar Georgiev finished with 27 saves.
Justin Schultz and Brandon Tanev scored for the Kraken, who won 3-1 in Game 1. Philipp Grubauer stopped 38 shots against his former team. He spent three seasons in Colorado before signing with Seattle prior to the 2021-22 season.
Game 3 of the best-of-seven series is Saturday in Seattle.
Golden Knights 5, Jets 2 Series tied 1-1
LAS VEGAS — Mark Stone scored two third-period goals and assisted on another in just his second game since returning from back surgery to give the Vegas Golden Knights a 5-2 victory over Winnipeg Jets on Thursday night in Game 2 to even the first-round series.
Chandler Stephenson and William Karlsson each had a goal and an assist, Jack Eichel scored his first career playoff goal and Phil Kessel and Alex Pietrangelo each had two assists. Laurent Brossoit made 31 saves.
Stone’s goals were his first since January. He underwent back surgery Jan. 31 and returned in time for this game.
Adam Lowry and Kevin Stenlund each scored for the Jets, and Connor Hellebuyck made 34 stops.
Game 3 is Saturday afternoon at Winnipeg.
Lowry scored on a power play at 9:18 of the first period, redirecting Neal Pionk’s shot from the point to give Winnipeg a 1-0 lead. It was his third goal in a row. He ended the series opener, a 5-1 Jets victory, with a power play goal and empty netter in the final 1:21.
The Jets dominated the first period by outshooting Vegas 17-8, and tensions were high with three fights breaking out and 18 minutes of penalties handed out.
But the Knights came out stronger in the second period and took the first lead of the series on Karlsson’s shot from the slot and Eichel’s redirect from 21 feet away.
Winnipeg evened the game at 2-2 on Stenlund’s goal off a 2-on-1 breakaway with 3:59 left.
The Knights broke open the game with three third-period goals.