Islanders: Excited for rematch with champs

The Islanders fell behind after three games for the second straight series. Each time, they won three straight to advance, and now they’re headed to the Stanley Cup semifinals for the second year in a row.

Brock Nelson scored twice in a three-goal second period, Semyon Varlamov stopped 23 shots and the Islanders beat the Bruins 6-2 in Game 6 of the East Division series on Wednesday night in Uniondale, New York.

The victory set up a rematch with the defending champion Lightning, who beat the Islanders in six games in the Eastern Conference finals last year.

“Now we can kind of turn the page and turn our focus to the Lightning,” Nelson said. “They’re obviously a great team . ... It’ll be a good battle.”

Oilers center Connor McDavid, Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews and Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon were named the finalists for the Hart Trophy as league MVP . ... The Blue Jackets promoted assistant Brad Larsen to head coach. Larsen, 43, replaces John Tortorella, whose tenure ended after the end of the season.

Golf: Top-ranked Dustin Johnson got off to a fast start at his home-state Palmetto Championship in Ridgeland, South Carolina, shooting a 6-under 65 that left him tied with three others a shot behind leader Wes Roach.

NBA: The league intends to return to a normal schedule next season, with training camps opening in late September and the regular season set to begin Oct. 19.

NFL: The Chiefs are hopeful G Kyle Long will be ready for the start of the season after suffering a knee injury during Wednesday’s workout. The team doesn’t think Long has any ligament damage. The 32-year-old former Pro Bowler while with the Bears ended his retirement after one year to sign with the Chiefs. He appeared in just 30 regular-season games from 2016-19 due to injuries.