Thursday's hockey: Rangers one win from East final; Stars even series 1-1 vs. Avs

Raleigh, N.C. — The New York Rangers erased an early deficit to take momentum, only to squander their own lead late with a huge postseason road victory only minutes away.

It didn't prevent them from staying unbeaten in the NHL playoffs with a second straight overtime win, and inching closer to the Eastern Conference Final.

Artemi Panarin redirected a pass between his legs at the crease to beat Pyotr Kotchetkov just 1:43 into OT and the Rangers beat the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 on Thursday night to take a 3-0 lead in the second-round series.

Panarin ended it after the Hurricanes' Andrei Svechnikov had scored with the extra attacker and only 1:36 left in regulation to tie it, sending a jolt through Carolina's normally boisterous crowd for the overtime period. Yet the Rangers pounced when the moment arrived to stun Carolina in a matchup of two of the league's top three teams in the regular season.

“This is a resilient group and they’ve been in these situations before," New York coach Peter Laviolette said about the intermission before OT. "And I think (it was) just sending messaging that we're doing the right things, we were going to finish this because of what we've been through and the way we're playing the game right now.”

Of course, it helps to have a finisher like Panarin.

The deciding play began when Carolina's Dmitry Orlov lost control of a puck in the corner in the defensive zone. Vincent Trocheck collected it on the right side and sent it toward the crease to Panarin, who tipped the puck behind him as defenseman Jalen Chatfield tried to push him away from the crease.

The puck slipped under the right elbow and past the ribs of Kotchetkov, sending Panarin into celebration and the Rangers soon joining him near the door toward the tunnel off the ice.

“I think Orlov, the puck bounced off his stick,” Trocheck said. “And then I just saw a little bit of daylight, saw Bread crashing the net, and it was a great tip by him.”

The Rangers, who are 7-0 in the postseason after sweeping Washington in Round 1, can complete the sweep in Game 4 here Saturday night.

Carolina had seen its last eight playoff losses come by one-goal margins going back to Florida's sweep in last year's Eastern Conference Final. Five of those losses came in overtime periods, including the past two.

"It's a little bit of a broken record," Carolina captain Jordan Staal said.

Stars 5, Avalanche 3

Dallas — The Dallas Stars built another multi-goal lead against high-scoring Colorado. This time, they held on to win and avoid another 0-2 hole in the NHL playoffs.

“Found a way to win the game, and that's the most important thing,” Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen said.

Heiskanen scored two power-play goals, Roope Hintz had a goal and three assists and the Stars beat the Colorado Avalanche 5-3 in Game 2 on Thursday night to even the second-round Western Conference series.

Tyler Seguin got his first goal this postseason on a short-hander at the end of a 3-on-1 breakaway for the Stars that put them up 4-0 late in the second period. Esa Lindell added an empty-netter with 20 seconds left, with Hintz getting his final assist.

Jake Oettinger had 28 saves against a Colorado team that led the NHL in scoring during the regular season and had averaged an NHL-high 5.33 goals in its first six games this postseason.

Joel Kiviranta, Andrew Cogliano and Brandon Duhaime scored in the third period for the Avalanche, but they failed to score on a power play in the final three minutes that was partly a 6-on-4 after goalie Alexander Georgiev skated to the bench.

“Obviously, I think we can handle those situations better. But I think that the silver lining is that we built 3-0 and 4-0 leads, so we've played some very good hockey for long stretches against them,” Stars coach Pete DeBoer said. “I thought tonight was better than Game 1. We did most of the things that we wanted to do tonight. Building that lead, the right guys scored, got on the board for us.”

Game 3 is Saturday night in Denver.

Colorado had also trailed 3-0 in the first period of Game 1 two nights earlier before coming back to win 4-3 in overtime, and extend its postseason winning streak to five games. That was the third time this season the Avs had come back from a multigoal deficit to win in Dallas.

They came up short this time in a game when hurt by some self-induced penalties and going 0 for 3 on power plays. Of their six penalties, two were for delay of game wo for delay of game after knocking pucks into the stands, and two more for having too many men on the ice.

“The second period for me is when it fell part. Just not sharp,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said. “Then we turn around in the third and go to work, and that’s what happens.”

Maple Leafs fire coach Keefe

Sheldon Keefe is out as coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, fired Thursday after another early exit from the NHL playoffs.

The move had been expected after Toronto lost to rival Boston in Game 7 last weekend, the fourth time in five years under Keefe that the team has lost in the first round. The Maple Leafs won just one playoff series since Keefe took over in November 2019.

“Today’s decision was difficult,” general manager Brad Treliving said in a statement. “Sheldon is an excellent coach and a great man. However, we determined a new voice is needed to help the team push through to reach our ultimate goal.”

In a video message posted on social media, Keefe said he was forever grateful for the opportunity to coach the Maple Leafs, which he called “a dream come true for a boy from Brampton,” his home outside Toronto. He also acknowledged how the results were not exactly what he dreamed up.

“I didn’t get it done in the playoffs,” Keefe said. “I didn’t help push our team over the line and deliver. I accept responsibility for that. No excuses. That’s the job. I didn’t get it done. It’s the reality of the business, and I accept it.”

After the league's 19th coaching change since the end of the 2022-23 season, the team said the search for Keefe's replacement will begin immediately. Treliving and other members of management are expected to address reporters Friday about the coaching change and other end-of-season topics.

Keefe, 43, joined the organization in 2015 as coach of the American Hockey League's Toronto Marlies thanks in large part to his junior hockey connection to then-assistant general manager Kyle Dubas, who was promoted and spent five season as GM before being fired last year. Keefe replaced Mike Babcock when Dubas fired him weeks into the 2019-20 season.

What followed were some excellent regular seasons and trips to the playoffs without much else to show for it. Coached by Keefe and with a core led by Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, Morgan Rielly and John Tavares, the Leafs went 16-21 in the postseason.

Earlier this week, Keefe said that while he accepts responsibility for expectations not being met, his confidence in the group’s – and his own – ability to succeed was at an all-time high.

“Now more than ever, I believe in myself and our team,” Keefe said. “That I will win and our team will win.”

Panthers head to Boston for Game 3

The Florida Panthers know what awaits them on Friday night. A fired-up crowd in Boston, an angry bunch of Bruins, probably a good amount of chirping and a tension the likes of which can only be created during the NHL playoffs.

Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk can't wait.

“The best time of year,” Tkachuk said. “Everybody knows that.”

Game 3 of a knotted-up Eastern Conference second-round series between the Panthers and Bruins is Friday in Boston, the teams splitting the first two games in Florida – and tensions ran hot in Game 2. Tkachuk and Bruins star David Pastrnak fought in the third period, a rarity for offensive stars. It was just the third fighting penalty of the season for Tkachuk, and Pastrnak's first since March 2018.

Florida won 6-1 and the only people busier than the ones logging the goals were the ones logging the penalty minutes, with 12 misconducts getting handed out in the third period alone.

“I don't think there's going to be any spillover to the next game,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said. “They're two teams that are rivals. We played each other last year, playing each other this year, it's going to be a series. And what I'm really proud of, I'm proud of Pasta. There's so many guys out there pushing after a whistle when the linesmen are there. Pasta and Tkachuk, they just went out there and fought. That's what you like. You like your hockey players to be competitors.”

Also Friday, Game 2 will happen in Vancouver between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers. Vancouver erased a three-goal deficit to win 5-4 in Game 1 on Wednesday night.

“It’s a resilient group,” Canucks coach Rick Tocchet said. “Sometimes we’re not pretty. Sometimes things happen. But I just feel like it’s a real close group."

The Panthers and Bruins – teams that met in a seven-game series in Round 1 last year, won by Florida in an upset – are pretty close groups as well. And Wednesday's events probably brought the respective rooms even closer.

From Florida's perspective, there were things to like: a five-goal win, holding Boston to 15 shots on goal, getting its first power-play score of the season against the Bruins, standing tall when things got physical late and above all else tying up the series. From Boston's perspective, there was much to celebrate as well from its road trip: the Bruins got home-ice advantage by taking Game 1, still have beaten Florida in five of six meetings this season and know the crowd will be raucous.

“This is what playoffs are about,” Bruins forward Brad Marchand said. “This is where rivalries are built and obviously with last year, it kind of started there and they play a physical game and we’re able to do that as well. … It's going to be a physical series. We know that. That’s what fans love. It’s exciting.”

Eastern Conference playoff matchups

Second round

Eastern Conference

Carolina vs. N.Y. Rangers

(Rangers lead 3-0)

▶ Game 1: Rangers 4-3

▶ Game 2: Rangers 4-3 (2OT)

▶ Game 3: Rangers 3-2 (OT)

▶ Game 4: Saturday @ Carolina, TBA

▶ Game 5: May 13 @ New York, TBA

▶ Game 6: May 16 @ Carolina, TBA

▶ Game 7: May 18 @ New York, TBA

Boston vs. Florida

(Series tied 1-1)

▶ Game 1: Boston 5-1

▶ Game 2: Florida 6-1

▶ Game 3: Friday @ Boston, TBA

▶ Game 4: Sunday @ Boston, TBA

▶ Game 5: May 14 @ Florida, TBA

▶ Game 6: May 17 @ Boston, TBA

▶ Game 7: May 19 @ Florida, TBA

Western Conference

Colorado vs. Dallas

(Series tied 1-1)

▶ Game 1: Avalanche 4-3 (OT)

▶ Game 2: Stars 5-3

▶ Game 3: Saturday @ Colorado, TBA

▶ Game 4: May 13 @ Colorado, TBA

▶ Game 5: May 15 @ Dallas, TBA

▶ Game 6: May 16 @ Colorado, TBA

▶ Game 7: May 19 @ Dallas

Edmonton vs. Vancouver

(Canucks lead 1-0)

▶ Game 1: Canucks 5-4

▶ Game 2: Friday @ Vancouver, 10

▶ Game 3: Sunday @ Edmonton, TBA

▶ Game 4: May 14 @ Edmonton, TBA

▶ Game 5: May 16 @ Vancouver, TBA

▶ Game 6: May 18 @ Edmonton, TBA

▶ Game 7: May 20 @ Vancouver, TBA

Eastern Conference

First round

Rangers vs. Capitals

(Rangers win 4-0)

▶ Game 1: Rangers 4-1

▶ Game 2: Rangers 4-3

▶ Game 3: Rangers 3-1

▶ Game 4: Rangers 4-2

Bruins vs. Maple Leafs

(Bruins win 4-3)

▶ Game 1: Bruins 5-1

▶ Game 2: Leafs 3-2

▶ Game 3: Bruins 4-2

▶ Game 4: Bruins 3-1

▶ Game 5: Leafs 3-2 (OT)

▶ Game 6: Leafs 2-0

▶ Game 7: Bruins 2-1 (OT)

Panthers vs. Lightning

(Panthers win 4-1)

▶ Game 1: Panthers 3-2

▶ Game 2: Panthers 3-2 (OT)

▶ Game 3: Panthers 5-3

▶ Game 4: Lightning 6-3

▶ Game 5: Lightning 6-1

Hurricanes vs. Islanders

(Hurricanes win 4-1)

▶ Game 1: Hurricanes 3-1

▶ Game 2: Hurricanes 5-3

▶ Game 3: Hurricanes 3-2

▶ Game 4: Islanders 3-2 (2OT)

▶ Game 5: Hurricanes 6-3

Western Conference playoff matchups

Dallas vs. Vegas

(Series tied 3-3)

▶ Game 1: Vegas 4-3

▶ Game 2: Vegas 3-1

▶ Game 3: Dallas 3-2 (OT)

▶ Game 4: Dallas 4-2

▶ Game 5: Dallas 3-2

▶ Game 6: Vegas 2-0

▶ Game 7: Sunday @ Dallas, 7:30

Winnipeg vs. Colorado

(Avalanche win 4-1)

▶ Game 1: Jets 7-6

▶ Game 2: Avalanche 5-2

▶ Game 3: Avalanche 6-2

▶ Game 4: Avalanche 5-1

▶ Game 5: Avalanche 6-3

Vancouver vs. Nashville

(Canucks win 4-2)

▶ Game 1: Canucks 4-2

▶ Game 2: Predators 4-1

▶ Game 3: Canucks 2-1

▶ Game 4: Canucks 4-3 (OT)

▶ Game 5: Predators 2-1

▶ Game 6: Canucks 1-0

Edmonton vs. Los Angeles

(Oilers win 4-1)

▶ Game 1: Oilers 7-4

▶ Game 2: Kings 5-4 (OT)

▶ Game 3: Oilers 6-1

▶ Game 4: Oilers 1-0

▶ Game 5: Oilers 4-3

American Hockey League playoffs

Central Division semifinal

(Griffins win series 3-1)

▶ Game 1: Grand Rapids 3-2 (OT)

▶ Game 2: Rockford 5-1

▶ Game 3: Grand Rapids 4-3 (OT)

▶ Game 4: Grand Rapids 4-2

Central Division semifinal

(Texas leads 2-1)

▶ Game 1: Texas 6-3

▶ Game 2: Texas 4-1

▶ Game 3: Milwaukee 5-3

▶ Game 4: Friday @ Milwaukee

▶ Game 5: Sunday @ Milwaukee

ECHL

Central Division Final

Toledo vs. Wheeling

(Toledo leads 3-0)

▶ Game 1: Toledo 2-1 (OT)

▶ Game 2: Toledo 5-3

▶ Game 3: Toledo 7-3

▶ Game 4: Friday @ Wheeling, 7:10

▶ Game 5: Saturday @ Wheeling, 7:10

▶ Game 6: Monday @ Toledo, 7:10

▶ Game 7: Tuesday @ Toledo, 7:10

Central Division Semifinal

(Toledo wins 4-0)

▶ Game 1: Toledo 3-2 (OT)

▶ Game 2: Toledo 5-2

▶ Game 3: Toledo 6-2

▶ Game 4: Toledo 4-2

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 finals in WHL, OHL, QMJHL

Western Hockey League

Moose Jaw vs. Portland

▶ Game 1: Friday @ Portland

▶ Game 2: Saturday @ Portland

▶ Game 3: May 14 @ Moose Jaw

▶ Game 4: May 15 @ Moose Jaw

▶ Game 5: May 17 @ Moose Jaw

▶ Game 6: May 19 @ Portland

▶ Game 7: May 20 @ Portland

Ontario Hockey League

Oshawa vs. London

▶ Game 1: Thursday @ London

▶ Game 2: Saturday @ London

▶ Game 3: May 13 @ Oshawa

▶ Game 4: May 15 @ Oshawa

▶ Game 5: May 17 @ London

▶ Game 6: May 19 @ Oshawa

▶ Game 7: May 20 @ London

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League

Baie-Comeau vs. Drummondville

▶ Game 1: Thursday @ Baie-Comeau

▶ Game 2: Friday @ Baie-Comeau

▶ Game 3: May 13 @ Drummondville

▶ Game 4: May 14 @ Drummondville

▶ Game 5: May 16 @ Baie-Comeau

▶ Game 6: May 18 @ Drummondville

▶ Game 7: May 21 @ Baie-Comeau