The hockey players of New York Ranges won 5:1 on the ice of New Jersey thanks to a pass from Filip Chytil, and in the opening round of the NHL playoffs they are already 2:0 ahead of the games. Ondřej Palát assisted on the home team’s only goal, and Vítek Vaněček saved five out of thirty shots. The next three series were tied: Toronto beat Tampa Bay 7-2, Colorado beat Seattle 3-2, and Vegas beat Winnipeg 5-2.
New Jersey led with a hit by Erik Haula, who reached Palát’s shot on the power play. The home team held the lead until the 26th minute, in which Vladimir Tarasenko beat Vaněček with a shot from the circle.
Still in the middle part, Chris Kreider tipped the score in favor of the Rangers with two runs in numerical advantages. Patrick Kane made it 4:1 with an individual action in the 47th minute, and after Chytil’s pass from behind the goal, Kaapo Kakko sealed the victory for the visitors from close range.
Toronto bounced back from a 3-7 opening loss and also handed the opponent seven points. The Canadian club led 3:0 after the opening period and 6:1 after forty minutes. Kämpf had the assist on the fifth goal when his shot was tapped in by Zach Aston-Reese. But the main character of the match was John Tavares, who scored a hat trick. Defenseman Morgan Rielly assisted on four Maple Leafs goals.
Colorado was already losing 0:2 in the 14th minute with the goals of Justin Schultz and Brandon Tanev, who came through in a weakened state. But the defending Stanley Cup equalized in the second period with goals from Artturi Lehkonen and Valerij Ničuškin. Defenseman Devon Toews completed the turnover in the 53rd minute. Seattle’s hopes for a second win were kept alive for a long time by goalkeeper Philipp Grubauer, who stopped 38 shots in the match.
Vegas decided in the final period, in which they broke a 2-2 tie with three goals. All three goals were scored by Mark Stone, who first assisted on Chandler Stephenson’s winning goal and in the end highlighted the win with two goals.
1. kolo play off NHL:
Eastern Conference – 2nd Matches:
New Jersey – NY Rangers 1:5 (series status: 0:2), Toronto – Tampa Bay 7:2 (series status: 1:1).
Western Conference – 2nd Matches:
Vegas – Winnipeg 5:2 (series status: 1:1), Colorado – Seattle 3:2 (series status: 1:1)
