The Florida Panthers second round opponent remains to be determined after the Toronto Maple Leafs pulled out a 2-1 overtime win over the Boston Bruins at TD Garden to avoid elimination. Joseph Woll made 27 saves and Matthews Knies sent the series back to Toronto for Game 6 when he scored 2:26 into the fourth period.
Moving over to the Metropolitan Division, the Carolina Hurricanes doubled up the New York Islanders by a 6-3 count to bring the series to an end in five games. The Hurricanes will move on to face the Presidents’ Trophy-winning New York Rangers next. Carolina won at least a series for the sixth straight season.
In the Central Division, the Colorado Avalanche pushed past the Winnipeg Jets 6-3 at Canada Life Centre to take the series in five as Mikko Rantanen scored his first two goals of the postseason. The Jets imploded after winning Game 1 on home ice while the Avalanche will now wait for the winner of the series between the Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights.
Alexandre Carrier scored the game-winning goal with 7:14 remaining in regulation to lift the Nashville Predators to a 2-1 Game 5 victory over the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena. The Predators gamely rebounded after gagging up Game 4 in Nashville to cut their series deficit to 3-2.
Wednesday in the Stanley Cup Playoffs
- Vegas Golden Knights at Dallas Stars 7:30 p.m. (ESPN) Series tied 2-2
- Los Angeles Kings at Edmonton Oilers 10 p.m. (ESPN) Oilers lead 3-1