The home teams carried the day on Sunday with the Toronto Maple Leafs cruising to a 6-2 win over the Ottawa Senators; the Carolina Hurricanes posted a 4-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils; and the Vegas Golden Knights held off the Minnesota Wild for a 4-2 win at T-Mobile Center.
Maple Leafs 6, Senators 2
Mitch Marner scored a goal and added two assists and former Florida Panthers goaltender Anthony Stolarz made 31 saves in his first career playoff start as Toronto took Game 1 at Scotiabank Arena. William Nylander and John Tavares each had a goal and an assist. and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Morgan Rielly and Matthew Knies also lit the lamp. Drake Batherson and Ridly Greig scored, and Linus Ullmark made 18 saves for the Senators, who were playing their first postseason game since 2017.
Hurricanes 4, Devils 1
Logan Stankhoven scored twice in the middle frame to power the Hurricanes to victory at Lenovo Center. Jalen Chatfield and Andrei Svechnikov also found the back of the net, and Frederik Andersen made 23 saves for Carolina. Nico Hischier scored the only goal for New Jersey, who a 41-save performance from Jacob Markstrom.
Golden Knights 4, Wild 2
Brett Howden scored the eventual game-winner and empty-net clincher in the third period and Tomas Hertl and Pavel Dorofeyev also tallied for victorious Vegas. Goalie Adin Hill turned aside 18 of 20 shots. Matt Boldy notched both of Minnesota’s goals and Kirill Kaprizov had two assists. The Wild were down one late in the third, but were unable to come up with the equalizer. Filip Gustavsson finished with 23 saves.
Tonight in the Stanley Cup Playoffs
- Montreal Canadiens at Washington Capitals 7 p.m. (ESPN)
- St. Louis Blues at Winnipeg Jets 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2) Jets lead series 1-0
- Colorado Avalanche at Dallas Stars 9:30 p.m. (ESPN) Avalanche lead series 1-0
- Edmonton Oilers at Los Angeles Kings 10 p.m. (ESPN2)