NHL playoffs: Florida takes a double break while Dallas ties the series
In the second round of the National Hockey League playoffs, both the Maple Leafs and Kraken were hindered by their defensive errors in Game 2.
In the NHL Eastern semi-final series, the Florida Panthers secured their second win against the Toronto Maple Leafs, giving them a 2-0 lead. Meanwhile, in the Western semi-finals, Dallas emerged victorious against Seattle with a 4-2 score on their home ice, resulting in a tied game record at 1-1.
Maple Leafs vs. Panthers
The Panthers have continued their impressive winning streak while playing away from home, now achieving five consecutive victories. In the first round of the President’s Trophy, they won three times against the Boston Bruins, and directly, after tying the first two games, they are transferring the series to their home field with a significant advantage. Initially, it seemed the game would favor Toronto, who scored two goals in the first five minutes via Kerfoot and O’Reilly.
However, in the 12th minute, the Panthers reduced the score to 2:1 through Lundell, ending the first period with a slight advantage. Though the hosts caught the Panthers off guard during the first period, what occurred at the beginning of the second period was an absolute blitzkrieg. Barkov equalized within 19 seconds from the 2nd period start whistle, and then in 47 seconds later, Forsling brought about a complete turnaround with a score of 3:2.
Even more remarkable, this lead continued for almost two-thirds of the game.
Stars vs. Kraken
The Dallas Stars successfully avoided the situation currently faced by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Although Seattle won the first game in Texas, the Stars managed to bounce back and win the second at home. As a result, they now hold a promising 1-1 record as they prepare to head to Seattle.
The home team came victorious with a score of 4:2.
The Stars players dominated the second half, clinching a 3:1 lead. Johnston, Dadonov, and Pavelski scored goals for the winning team, while Tye Kartye scored for Seattle. Tyler Seguin’s goal halfway through the last period secured a 4:1 lead, making it evident that the game was over. Eberle scored the only goal for Seattle until the end, reducing the score marginally.