Throughout the Stanley Cup playoffs we’ll be keeping track of all the action around the league, and bringing you all of the results in one place.
Boston Bruins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
This series shifted to Toronto for Game 3, and after the Leafs managed to even things up in Game 2, they were hoping that home ice would offer them the boost needed to pull ahead in the series, but the Bruins had other plans.
It was a somewhat slow, somewhat even beginning to this game, as we had a good bit of back and forth early but still hit the first intermission scoreless. It wasn’t until well past the midway point of the second period that anyone was able to break through, and this time it was Matthew Knies managing to deflect a puck in while crashing the crease, giving the Leafs the lead. This lead, though, would be short-lived, as just over four minutes later, the Bruins were able to tie things up on a goal from Trent Frederic.
The third period is when things really started to open up. The Bruins gained their first lead of the game just over a minute into the frame on a power play goal by Jake DeBrusk. The Leafs were able to tie things up again just past the 11 minute mark as Tyler Bertuzzi was able to get one past Jeremy Swayman, but then just 28 seconds later, the Bruins turned around and managed their own counterpunch, and Brad Marchand put them on top again.
The Leafs managed a bit more pushback, but ultimately things sort of imploded on them at the end. With just over a minute left in regulation, John Tavares committed a tripping penalty while the Leafs had the goalie pulled, thus sending the Bruins to the power play, where the Leafs once again pulled the goalie, and the Bruins scored the empty net goal (Marchand again) to seal the win.
Final: 4-2 Bruins
Series: 2-1 Bruins
Highlights: NHL
Dallas Stars vs. Vegas Golden Knights
Back in Dallas, the Stars were hoping to pick up one win on home ice to tie up the series, but after how well the Golden Knights showed in their first meeting, this was going to be a difficult task.
That Stars started well, even managed to grab the first lead of the game on a big goal by Jason Robertson, but that lead would be short lived, as the Golden Knights came back just under a minute and a half later, and Jonathan Marchessault quickly got them even again.
And it would be Vegas who ultimately came out on top in this one, and in somewhat cruel fashion to Stars fans. Dallas was able to hang around and keep things interesting, but Vegas managed not one but two back breakers of goals — first, with just 1:09 remaining in the second period, Noah Hanifin scored to extend their lead to two goals, and then ultimately Jack Eichel put away the empty netter with 34 seconds remaining to seal it. And the Golden Knights thus have swept the away games in Dallas.
Final: 3-1 Golden Knights
Series: 2-0 Golden Knights
Highlights: NHL
Los Angeles Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers
The other game out West, this between the Kings and Oilers, managed to be even tighter still.
After dropping their first meeting in Edmonton, the Kings came out pretty hot for this second game, and managed to put up, in the first period, a big lead, thanks to a pretty singular effort from Adrian Kempe (he scored his first just three minutes into the game and then added another just over 10 minutes later, with a huge deflection goal on the rush).
The Oilers weren’t going to go away quietly, though, and they responded just a few minutes later, with a goal by Brett Kulak able to cut the Kings’ lead in half… only to then see it restored 29 seconds later by Drew Doughty.
The second period saw a bit less action, but still the Oilers chipping away at that lead. Through a nice little burst of production in the second period (care of Dylan Holloway and Zach Hyman on the power play), the Oilers were able to pull themselves back to even again. The third period, then, was something of a whole new game, but we didn’t see things break open quite like they did early on — the Kings again pulled back into the lead when Kevin Fiala scored inside the two minute mark, but the Oilers didn’t let them keep building on that, and tied things up again (thanks to Holloway again) just 1:37 later. And that tie would remain unbroken through the duration of the period, try as both sides might to break it.
So it would take overtime to decide this one, and mercifully for all watching but especially those on the East Coast, it was a brief one — just 2:07 into the period, Anze Kopitar was able to beat Stuart Skinner for the game winner (and to even up the series).
Final: 5-4 (OT) Kings
Series: 1-1 tied
Highlights: NHL
