Mitch Marner scored twice, including on a penalty shot, as the Toronto Maple Leafs shook off an end of the season slump to surprise the Boston Bruins by a 4-1 count to open up a one-game to none series lead. Frederik Andersen made 37 saves and William Nylander and John Tavares also scored for the visiting Buds. Patrice Bergeron bagged the only Boston goal to open the scoring.
Niklas Backstrom scored the game’s first two goals as the Washington Capitals opened its series with the Carolina Hurricanes with a 4-2 win on home ice. Trailing 3-0 in third, the Hurricanes got a pair of goals from rookie Andrei Svechnikov to pull within one before Lars Eller clinched it for the Caps with an empty-netter. Alex Ovechkin scored the other Washington goal and Braden Holbty finished with 27 stops for the Stanley Cup champs.
The Calgary Flames got two goals from Matthew Tkachuk and Andrew Mangiapane and Mikael Backlund also scored in an 4-0 win over the Colorado Avalanche. Veteran keeper Mike Smith turned away 26 shots to post the first shutout of the playoffs.
Tonight’s games
- Columbus at Tampa Bay 7 p.m. CNBC (Lightning lead series 1-0)
- Pittsburgh at New York Islanders 7:30 p.m. NBCSN (Islanders lead series 1-0)
- St. Louis at Winnipeg 9:30 p.m. CNBC (Blues lead series 1-0)
- Vegas at San Jose 10:30 p.m. NBCSN (Sharks lead series 1-0)/
Panthers stuff
Owen Tippett and the Saginaw Spirit were blanked 3-0 by the Ste. Sault Mare Greyhounds preventing a series sweep. Tippett finished the game with one shot on goal and a -1 rating.
Serron Noel and the Oshawa Generals rolled to a 7-3 win over the Niagara IceDogs, evening the quarterfinal series at two games apiece. Noel collected two assists, two shots and finished a +2 on the night.