Wednesday's hockey: Bruins take 2-1 lead on Leafs: Oilers lose on Kopitar's OT goal

Toronto — Brad Marchand broke a tie midway through the third period and the Boston Bruins beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 on Wednesday night to take a 2-1 lead in the first-round playoff series.

After Todd Bertuzzi tied it for Toronto with 8:35 left, Marchard put the Bruins back in front 28 second later. He took a pass from Danton Heinen and ripped a shot past goalie Ilya Samsonov’s ear. Marchand capped the scoring with an empty-netter and also had an assist.

Jake DeBrusk and Trent Frederic also scored for Boston, and Jeremy Swayman made 28 saves. Swayman made 35 saves in Boston's 5-1 victory in Game 1, then gave way to Linus Ullmark in Toronto's 3-2 victory in Game 2.

Matthew Knies also scored for Toronto, and Samsonov made 30 saves. Toronto was 0 for 5 on the power play, leaving it 1 for 11 in the series.

Game 4 of the best-of-seven series is Saturday night at Scotiabank Arena.

Toronto pulled Samsonov for the extra attacker with just over two minutes to go, but Maple Leafs captain John Tavares took a holding penalty with 1:04 left and Marchand sealed it with the empty-net goal.

The Maple Leafs opened the scoring with 6:50 left in the second. Mitch Marner deftly moved past a defender and slid a pass for Knies to redirect upstairs on Swayman.

Boston tied it with 2:23 left in the period when Frederic's shot went off the lost and in. DeBrusk gave Boston a 2-1 lead at 1:07 of third.

Vegas 3, (at) Dallas 1: Noah Hanifin broke a tie with an unassisted goal late in the second period and Stanley Cup champion Vegas beat top-seeded Dallas to take a 2-0 lead in the first-round series.

Hanifin was one of the three trade-deadline acquisitions for the Knights, the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference.

Jonathan Marchessault scored his second goal of the series, and his franchise-record 36th in the postseason while appearing in all 90 of Vegas’ playoff games.

Jack Eichel assisted on Marchessault’s goal and added an empty-netter. Logan Thompson had 20 saves in his second career playoff start.

Game 3 is Saturday night in Las Vegas.

L.A. Kings 5, (at) Edmonton 4 (OT): Anze Kopitar fired a wrist shot past Stuart Skinner’s glove and into the top corner on a breakaway to give Los Angeles a victory over Edmonton in Game 2 of the first-round playoff series.

Kopitar picked up the puck near the Edmonton blue line, moved in on Talbot and shot from the slot as Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse dove to try to block the shot.

Los Angeles rebounded from a 7-4 loss Monday night in the opener to send the series to Los Angeles tied 1-1. Game 3 is Friday night.

Eastern Conference playoff matchups

Rangers vs. Capitals

(Rangers lead 2-0)

▶ Game 1: Rangers 4-1

▶ Game 2: Rangers 4-3

▶ Game 3: Friday @ Washington, 7 p.m.

▶ Game 4: Sunday @ Washington, 8 p.m.

Bruins vs. Maple Leafs

(Bruins lead 2-1)

▶ Game 1: Bruins 5-1

▶ Game 2: Leafs 3-2

▶ Game 3: Bruins 4-2

▶ Game 4: Saturday @ Toronto, 8 p.m.

Panthers vs. Lightning

(Panthers lead 2-0)

▶ Game 1: Panthers 3-2

▶ Game 2: Panthers 3-2 (OT)

▶ Game 3: Thursday @ Tampa Bay, 7 p.m.

▶ Game 4: Saturday @ Tampa Bay, 5 p.m.

Hurricanes vs. Islanders

(Hurricanes lead 2-0)

▶ Game 1: Hurricanes 3-1

▶ Game 2: Hurricanes 5-3

▶ Game 3: Thursday @ N.Y. Islanders, 7:30 p.m.

▶ Game 4: Saturday @ N.Y. Islanders, 2 p.m.

Western Conference playoff matchups

Dallas vs. Vegas

(Golden Knights lead 2-0)

▶ Game 1: Vegas 4-3

▶ Game 2: Vegas 3-1

▶ Game 3: Saturday @ Vegas, 10:30 p.m.

▶ Game 4: Monday @ Vegas, TBD

Winnipeg vs. Colorado

(Series tied 1-1)

▶ Game 1: Jets 7-6

▶ Game 2: Avalanche 5-2

▶ Game 3: Friday @ Colorado, 10 p.m.

▶ Game 4: Sunday @ Colorado, 2:30 p.m.

Vancouver vs. Nashville

(Series tied 1-1)

▶ Game 1: Canucks 4-2

▶ Game 2: Predators 4-1

▶ Game 3: Friday @ Nashville, 7:30 p.m.

▶ Game 4: Sunday @ Nashville, 5 p.m.

Edmonton vs. Los Angeles

(Series tied 1-1)

▶ Game 1: Oilers 7-4

▶ Game 2: Kings 5-4 (OT)

▶ Game 3: Friday @ Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.

▶ Game 4: Sunday @ Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.

Utah hockey fans welcome ex-Coyotes

Utah hockey fans welcomed the former Arizona Coyotes to their new home Wednesday.

Players and coaches were greeted at the airport in morning by a crowd of approximately 100 players from local youth hockey programs. The kids chanted “Go, Utah! Go, Utah!”

The team attended a fan celebration at the Delta Center in the afternoon. The arena was packed for the free event, with many fans turned away at the doors.

“We’re 70 people who got traded the same day and we’re going to the same place,” coach André Tourigny said. “I think all of that creates some magic. I think we’ll just be tighter with that. When you want to win championships, you need to go through the trenches together. We went through some trenches this year.”

The challenges uprooting from Arizona are tempered by the energetic reception the club has received in the state and a chance to build a new culture.

“We’re now a part of history,” player Lawson Crouse said. “Not too many people get to say they can do this. Obviously, the circumstances over the past couple of weeks have been unlike anything out there, but to be here now we feel honored, and we feel blessed and we’re really looking forward to get things rolling here.”

Immediate concerns for the team from a logistical standpoint include getting practice facilities and a locker room in place. They plan to make temporary arrangements with community venues for the near future.

“We just need ice whether it’s here or it’s at one of the practice rinks,” general manager Bill Armstrong said. “As long as we have ice, we’re good.”

Four-time All-Star forward Clayton Keller thinks team can break through and be a playoff team in its debut season in the Beehive State after failing to reach the postseason the last four years in Arizona.

“It takes time to learn how to win in this league,” Keller said. “When everyone buys in, I think that’s when you can take some steps and reach that next level.”

Sharks fire coach Quinn

San Jose, Calif. — The San Jose Sharks fired coach David Quinn on Wednesday following two rough seasons as part of a massive rebuilding project.

General manager Mike Grier called it a hard decision to fire Quinn after he experienced two seasons under “difficult circumstances” but said he decided it was the best move for the franchise's future after spending the past few days meeting with coaches, players, front office staff and owner Hasso Plattner.

“After going through our process, and digesting this going through the process of evaluating everything, I just felt this was what we needed to do,” Grier said. "A different voice for the group where the group is now and what’s needed for the group.”

Grier hired Quinn to replace Red Wings assistant coach Bob Boughner shortly after taking over as GM in 2022. Quinn spent two seasons in San Jose that were marked with lackluster play as the team traded away several high-priced stars like Erik Karlsson, Brent Burns, Tomas Hertl and Timo Meier, part of a major overhaul in hopes of getting the franchise back to contending.

Instead, the Sharks had a 41-98-25 record in Quinn's two seasons for the worst mark in the NHL in that span, including a league-worst 47 points this season. San Jose's 19 wins this season were the fewest in a full season since the franchise's second year as an expansion team in 1992-93.

“That didn’t really factor into it too, too much,” Grier said. “Obviously, it’s something I’m aware of. But at the same time, going into into the season, I kind of knew what the roster was. I wasn’t expecting us to be a playoff team. Did the season go a little worse than expected? Yes. But it’s not all performance-related.”

The last-place finish gives San Jose a 25.5% chance of earning the No. 1 draft pick and the prize that is expected to be Hobey Baker Award winner Macklin Celebrini, who played one season for the Sharks junior team while living in the Bay Area.

The Sharks were outscored by 147 goals this season, excluding shootouts, for the 12th-worst mark ever and the worst in 30 years since Ottawa was outscored by 196 goals in 1993-94, its second season as an expansion team.

San Jose set a franchise record for fewest goals scored per game (2.18) and had the fourth-worst mark in team history in goals allowed per game (3.98). The Sharks allowed at least six goals in a game 18 times, the second-most times that has happened in a season since the start of 1996-97.

Grier put no timeline on the search for a new coach and said he's open to candidates both with and without head coaching experience in the NHL. He said the assistants would remain under contract and have the chance to stay on if the new coach wanted them but were free to seek other opportunities if they arise.

The Sharks have missed the playoffs for a franchise-record five straight seasons after making the 2019 Western Conference Final and have the worst record in the NHL in that span. San Jose had been one of the most consistent teams in the league before this stretch, making the playoffs in 14 of 15 seasons, with five trips to the conference final and one trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 2016 before losing in six games to Pittsburgh.

But the core of that roster was aging, and San Jose struggled the next three seasons before Grier took over and started a rebuild that has given the team significant draft capital. It has two extra first-round picks the next two seasons and an extra second-rounder this year.

Grier also announced that head athletic trainer Ray Tufts would not return after spending 27 years with the franchise.

Panthers still marveling at Bobrovsky's heroics

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. — In the moment, The Save kept the game tied. By night's end, it became a game-saver since Florida went on to prevail in overtime.

And the way Panthers coach Paul Maurice sees it, the impact from Sergei Bobrovsky's moment on Tuesday night will only continue – with a reach beyond these NHL playoffs and this series between Florida and the Tampa Bay Lightning.

It won a game. It may grow the game, too.

“There'll be a number of kids in the driveway this weekend and they'll all want to play goal for the first time,” Maurice said. “For me, that's how it happens. They see something kind of magical and have to go and try it, right? You get five kids and there'll be a street hockey game going somewhere, everybody's going to want to be Bobrovsky, they'll be flipping around the net, trying to do the spin-o-rama kick saves.”

Memo to those kids: Good luck.

The hyperbole kept coming Wednesday: Bobbery, some were calling it, a play on Bobrovsky's last name and obvious nickname – Bob. Save of the playoffs, others said. Save of the year, save of all-time, you get the idea. It was that good, so good that even the Lightning had to tip their collective caps out of respect.

“Hell of a save,” Lightning captain Steven Stamkos said.

There have been something like 4 million saves in NHL history, and Bobrovsky is responsible for 20,681 of them. There's no definitive ranking of them all, of course, but in this moment anyway, Bobrovsky's “how-did-he-do-that?” play stands alone.

“I think it's the best save I've ever seen in my life," Florida's Vladimir Tarasenko said Wednesday. “It's amazing. I don't know what else to say.”

Even retired football star JJ Watt took notice. “What a damn save,” he wrote on social media.

Bobrovsky made the save like this: He was facing left, looking at Stamkos, who had the puck relatively close to the net. Stamkos saw tons of clear ice on the other side of the slot and sent the puck into unoccupied space, where Lightning defenseman Matt Dumba tapped a backhander from maybe 10 feet away toward what was a wide-open net.

Key word: Was. Bobrovsky – out of “desperation,” he'd say later – dove backward across the goal mouth, reached out blindly with his left wrist and somehow got his glove side in the way of Dumba's shot to keep the game tied at 2-2. It wound up being a game-saver; the Panthers got a goal from Carter Verhaeghe 2:59 into overtime for a 3-2 win.

“That's a lifetime of working your (butt) off, the ability to know where your body is so that mentally you wouldn't quit on that play, that you would think you still have a chance to stop that puck,” Maurice said.

Panthers forward Anton Lundell was far more succinct: “Pretty sick,” he said.

That was “sick” in the good sense. The Lightning probably just felt sick in the conventional sense – especially since their goalie, Andrei Vasilevskiy, was basically a brick wall for most of the evening as well. Vasilevskiy didn't have the flying, flailing save like Bobrovsky, but he stoned Florida's offense for the entirety of the second and third periods to give the Lightning a chance.

Florida leads the series 2-0; Game 3 is in Tampa on Thursday.

“It's been unbelievable goaltending. I think that's been the highlight of the entire series, back and forth,” Lightning forward Brandon Hagel said Wednesday. “We've obviously got Vasi; as we say, the best goaltender in the league, and they've got a really good goaltender over there. It's going to be tough to get pucks by him and it's going to be tough to get pucks by our goalie as well. Hopefully we can just maybe try to get one more past them than they do us.”

Michigan-area hockey

Tuesday

▶ Saginaw 3, Sault Ste. Marie 1

Wednesday

▶ Toledo 6, Kalamazoo 2

Thursday

▶ NTDP U18s vs. Slovakia, 7 a.m. (Hockey Network)

Friday

▶ Toledo at Kalamazoo, 7

Saturday

▶ Rockford @ Grand Rapids, 7 (AHL)

▶ NTDP U18s vs. Norway, 10:30 a.m. (Hockey Network)

▶ Toledo at Kalamazoo, 7:15

Sunday

▶ NTDP U18s vs. Latvia, 11 a.m. (Hockey Network)

▶ Grand Rapids vs. Rockford

American Hockey League playoffs

Central Division semifinal

(Best-of-five series)

▶ Game 1: Saturday @ Grand Rapids, 7

▶ Game 2: Wednesday @ Rockford, 7

▶ Game 3: Friday @ Rockford, 7

▶ Game 4: Sunday, May 5 @ Grand Rapids, 4

▶ Game 5: Friday, May 10 @ Rockford, 7

Central Division semifinal

(Best-of-five series)

▶ Milwaukee vs. winner of Texas-Manitoba

ECHL

Central Division Semifinal

(Best-of-seven series)

▶ Game 1: Toledo 3-2 (OT)

▶ Game 2: Toledo 5-2

▶ Game 3: Toledo 6-2

▶ Game 4: Friday @ Kalamazoo, 7

▶ Game 5: Saturday @ Toledo, 7:15 *

▶ Game 6: Tuesday @ Kalamazoo, 7 *

▶ Game 7: Wednesday May 1 @ Toledo, 7:15 *

* if necessary

Road to the Memorial Cup in Saginaw

(Saginaw hosts May 24-June 2)

▶ Friday, May 24: WHL vs. Saginaw, 7:30

▶ Saturday, May 25: OHL vs. QMJHL, 4

▶ Sunday, May 26: Saginaw vs. QMJHL, 7:30

▶ Monday, May 27: OHL vs. WHL, 7:30

▶ Tuesday, May 28: QMJHL vs. WHL, 7:30 

▶ Wednesday, May 29: Saginaw vs. OHL, 7:30 

▶ Thursday, May 30: Tie breaker (if necessary)

▶ Friday, May 31: Semifinal, 7:30

▶ Sunday, June 2: Final, 7:30

CHL playoffs in WHL, OHL, QMJHL

Western Hockey League

▶ Saskatoon Blades vs. Moose Jaw Warriors

▶ Prince George Cougars vs. Portland Winterhawks

Ontario Hockey League

▶ Oshawa Generals vs. North Bay Battalion

▶ London Knights vs. Saginaw

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League

▶ Baie-Comeau Drakkar vs. Cape Breton Eagles

▶ Drummondville Voltigeurs vs. Victoriaville Tigres