Avs move on after dispatching Jets
WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Mikko Rantanen scored his first two goals of the playoffs in the third period, leading the Colorado Avalanche to a 6-3 victory over the Winnipeg Jets that clinched their opening-round playoff series in five games.
Rantanen, who also had an assist, scored twice in a span of just under four minutes early in the third period to snap a 3-3 tie. Valeri Nichushkin, Yakov Trenin, Artturi Lehkonen and Josh Manson also scored for the Avalanche, who will play the winner of the series between Dallas and the Golden Knights.
Kyle Connor, Josh Morrissey and Tyler Toffoli scored for the Jets, who became the first team in NHL history to allow five or more goals in each of their first five games to begin a postseason. The Avalanche outscored the Jets 28-15 during the series, including four empty-net goals.
■ Hurricanes 6, Islanders
3: At Raleigh, N.C., Jack Drury scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and Stefan Noesen cleaned up a fluky puck bounce off the boards for another goal 8 seconds later as Carolina clinched its first-round NHL playoff series in five games. The Hurricanes twice blew two-goal leads and entered the final 20 minutes in a 3-3 tie. Carolina next faces the New York Rangers.
■ Maple Leafs 2, Bruins
1: At Boston, Matthew Knies scored less than three minutes into overtime off a feed from John Tavares as Toronto staved off elimination in its first-round playoff matchup. Ilya Lyubushkin, Max Domi, Mitch Marner had assists for the Maple Leafs, who outshot Boston 33-28. Boston takes a 3-2 series lead into Game 6 on Thursday in Toronto.
■ Predators 2, Canucks 1: At Vancouver, British Columbia, Alexandre Carrier scored the go-ahead goal 12:46 into the third period as Nashville avoided elimination. The goal came after Roman Josi tied it 1-1 a few minutes earlier on a power play. Nashville was 0-for-3 on the power play before Josi’s goal. Game 6 will be in Nashville on Friday with Vancouver holding a 3-2 series lead.