NHL Playoffs: Hurricanes, Avalanche clinch; Maple Leafs, Predators win Game 5

Sports Daypop

The Carolina Hurricanes clinched their first-round playoff series, eliminating the Islanders with a 6-3 win in Game 5 on Tuesday night at PNC Arena.  The Canes’ Teuvo Teravainen, Andrei Svechnikov and Evgeny Kuznetsov put Carolina up 3-1 in the first period, and after the Islanders scored in the second period, they fought back to re-take the lead.

The Hurricanes will face the New York Rangers in the next round; NY swept the Washington Capitals in their first-round series.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs stayed alive with a 2-1 win in OT against the Boston Bruins in Game 5 on Tuesday at TD Garden. The Leafs’ Matthew Knies, 21, scored the winning goal, marking his third career playoff goal and his first postseason overtime winner. Jake McCabe scored the other goal for the Leafs in the victory, while Trent Frederic got Boston’s only goal.

Game 6 will take place on Thursday night at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

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The Colorado Avalanche will advance to the second playoff round after beating the Winnipeg Jets 6-3 in Game 5 at Canada Life Centre on Tuesday. Mikko Rantanen scored two goals in the third period to put Colorado back in front 4-3, and made it 5-3 at 8:01; while Josh Manson scored an empty-net goal at 19:58 for the 6-3 final score.

The Avalanche will face the winner of the Vegas Golden Knights vs. Dallas Stars series, which is currently tied 2-2.

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The Nashville Predators defeated the Vancouver Canucks and avoided elimination in Game 5 on Tuesday night at Rogers Arena with a 2-1 win. Alexandre Carrier’s go-ahead goal with 7:14 left gave the Predators the win, in a game that went scoreless after two periods. The Canucks now lead the series 3–2.

Game 6 is set to take place on Friday at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

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