Thursday’s playoff games

Panthers 5, Lightning 3: Matthew Tkachuk scored twice, including an empty-net goal to ice the game, as visiting Florida took a commanding 3-0 lead in its best-of-seven Eastern Conference playoff series. After Nick Paul cut the Lightning’s deficit to 4-3 with 5:10 remaining, they pulled goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy with 1:45 left for the extra skater.Steven Stamkos, Tyler Motte and Nick Paul hit the net for the Lightning, while Vasilevskiy stopped 26 shots.

Hurricanes 3, Islanders 2: Sebastian Aho scored the game-winning goal in the second period for visiting Carolina, which took a 3-0 lead in its best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round series. Game 4 is scheduled for Saturday afternoon in Elmont, N.Y. Brent Burns and Dmitry Orlov scored in the first for the Hurricanes, who are attempting to advance beyond the first round for the fourth straight season. Goalie Frederik Andersen made 29 saves.

Blackhawks sign Alex Vlasic to 6-year extension

Defenseman Alex Vlasic and the Chicago Blackhawks agreed on a six-year, $27.6 million contract extension through the 2029-30 season.

Vlasic could have become a restricted free agent on July 1.

Vlasic, 22, is a local product from Wilmette, Ill., about 20 miles north of United Center.

The Blackhawks selected him in the second round (43rd overall) of the 2019 draft. He went on to play three seasons at Boston University, then spent time between with the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League and the Blackhawks before becoming a fixture in Chicago in the 2023-24 season.

In 76 games, he posted 16 points (two goals, 14 assists) with an average ice time of 21:29 — second on the team.