boston — Gustav Forsling scored the tying goal off a rebound with 1:33 left, Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 22 shots and the Florida Panthers beat the Boston Bruins 2-1 on Friday night. They won for the first time in six games in the second round of the playoff series.
The Panthers advance to the Eastern Conference finals and will face the New York Rangers. Game 1 will be played Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.
Anton Lundell scored for the Panthers, setting up the winning goal when his shot deflected into the left side of the net. Forsling came on and defeated Jeremy Swayman. The Panthers, who also eliminated the Bruins from the playoffs after setting records in the regular season last year, won all three games in Boston.
Swayman stopped 26 shots for the Bruins. Boston took a 1-0 lead late in the first period with a goal from Pavel Zascha, but they were unable to overcome Bobrovsky again.
The Bruins have captain Brad Marchand back after missing two games with what appears to be a concussion. The longest-serving member of the roster received loud applause during his introduction, but was not involved in the scoring.
Boston took the lead with a minute left in the first period when Jake DeBrusk made a backhand pass to Zasha on a no-look, setting him up for a breakaway. Brandon Carlo also contributed by flattening Carter Verhaeghe at the blue line and keeping him from chasing the puck.
However, Florida tied the score with seven minutes left in the second half after a scramble in front of Boston's net left DeBrusk on the ice. Lundell swooped into the slot and swept the puck past Swayman.
Maple Leafs hire Berube as coach
The Toronto Maple Leafs hired Craig Berube as coach on Friday, bringing in a former Stanley Cup champion in an effort to help the storied franchise end the NHL's longest championship drought.
Berube led the St. Louis Blues to the Cup in 2019. The Maple Leafs haven't won since 1967, when there were only six teams in the league.
Toronto president Brendan Shanahan and general manager Brad Treliving moved quickly to hire Berube to replace Sheldon Keefe, who was fired after another early playoff exit. It was the fourth time in Keefe's five years that the Leafs were eliminated in the first round and won just one series.
Berube, 58, led the Blues to the playoffs five times and won five series in seven seasons. The Blues, who promoted Berube midway through the season en route to winning the only title in franchise history, fired him in December. He works in television at TNT in the United States.
Toronto will be the Calahoo, Alberta native's third NHL head coaching job, including two seasons in Philadelphia (2013-15). He becomes the Maple Leafs' third coach, joining Keefe and Mike Babcock, since the team put together a core group of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and John Tavares.
Affectionately nicknamed “Chief” because of his Indigenous heritage, Berube played 1,143 games in the league from 1987 to 2003 before transitioning into coaching. He played half a season with the Leafs in 1991-92, then moved to Calgary for nine seasons. He sent Doug Gilmore to Toronto in a player trade.
The team posted a photo of Berube in a Toronto uniform on social media with the message, “Welcome back coach.” He is scheduled to be introduced at a press conference on Tuesday.
Oilers think “one game at a time”
The Edmonton Oilers have visited here before and are returning home after the season.
They are hoping for a different result this time.
Last year, the Oilers lost 3-2 to Las Vegas and returned to Edmonton for Game 6. The Golden Knights went 5-2 in that game, closing out the series and winning the Stanley Cup.
The Oilers are in a must-win situation again after losing 3-2 to Vancouver in Game 6 of the second round of the Stanley Playoff Series. The Canucks hold a 3-2 edge in the No. 7 series and can advance to the Western Conference finals with a win in Game 6 in Edmonton on Saturday (8 p.m. ET, ESPN).
“We're just going to take it one game at a time,” Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl said. “We have to go home and win one game at home. That's all we have to do.”
Limiting Edmonton captain Connor McDavid's performance was key to Vancouver's success throughout the series.
McDavid didn't score in Games 3 and 5, and was held without a shot on net in Game 1, the only time that happened in 59 playoff games.
Despite the increased attention, McDavid has one goal and five assists in the series, part of a total of 18 points in 10 playoff games this year.
The challenge of taming an elite center largely falls on the Canucks' line centered around forward JT Miller, but he said a balance between respect for McDavid's skill and aggression is key.
“No disrespect, but I think the last few games he's been a little too respectful of Conor and played a little bit too hard to score. It just gives him more time with the puck. '' Miller said. , scored the winning goal in the final moments of Game 5.
But McDavid and Draisaitl are known for stepping up in key moments, and both know they'll be relied on again Saturday.
Draisaitl has scored in all 10 of Edmonton's playoff games this season, leading the league in the playoffs with 21 points, including three goals and eight assists against Vancouver.
“We get paid to step up in big moments,” he said.
Who else will be on the roster could be in flux, Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch hinted Friday. He said the coaching staff was considering adding “fresh legs” to help the team.
“I think there will be adjustments, whether it's the line, fresh bodies or adding two guys,” Knoblauch said. “Again, those are things we will evaluate and make a decision on (Saturday).”
There is also a question mark over who will start in net for the Oilers.
Stuart Skinner was in goal for the first two games of the series, but was replaced in the third period of Game 3 after giving up four goals on 15 shots.
Calvin Pickard came in as a reliever and made his NHL playoff debut at age 32, posting a 1-1 postseason record with a 2.21 goals against average and .915 save percentage.
“(Picard) was great in the two games he (started) and gave us a chance to win those two games,” Knoblauch said. “We've been letting (the decision) sit, so we'll meet today and then make a decision and decide who's going to play (Saturday).”
Eastern Conference Playoffs bracket
3rd round
Florida vs. New York Rangers
▶ Game 1: Wednesday @ New York
2nd round
eastern conference
Carolina vs. New York Rangers
(Rangers won 4-2)
▶ Game 1: Rangers 4-3
▶ Game 2: Rangers 4-3 (2OT)
▶ Game 3: Rangers 3-2 (OT)
▶ Game 4: Hurricanes 4-3
▶ Game 5: Hurricanes 4-1
▶ Game 6: Rangers 5-3
boston vs florida
(Panthers won 4-2)
▶ Game 1: Boston 5-1
▶ Game 2: Florida 6-1
▶ Game 3: Florida 6-2
▶ Game 4: Florida 3-2
▶ Game 5: Boston 2-1
▶ Game 6: Florida 2-1
western conference
Colorado vs. Dallas
(Stars lead 3-2)
▶ Game 1: Avalanche 4-3 (OT)
▶ Game 2: 5-3 stars
▶ Game 3: Star 4-1
▶ Game 4: Star 5-1
▶ Game 5: Avalanche 5-3
▶ Game 6: Friday @ Colorado TBA
▶ Game 7: Sunday @ Dallas
Edmonton vs Vancouver
(Canucks 3-2 lead)
▶ Game 1: Canucks 5-4
▶ Game 2: Oilers 4-3 (OT)
▶ Game 3: Canucks 4-3
▶ Game 4: Oilers 3-2
▶ Game 5: Canucks 3-2
▶ Game 6: Saturday @ Edmonton, TBA
▶ Game 7: Monday @ Vancouver, TBA
american hockey league playoffs
Middle district final
Grand Rapids vs. Milwaukee
(Grand Rapids leads 1-0 for 5 straight games)
▶ Game 1: Grand Rapids 4-2
▶ Game 2: Monday, May 20 @ Milwaukee, 8
▶ Game 3: Wednesday, May 22 @ Grand Rapids, 7
▶ Game 4: Friday, May 24th, 7 in Grand Rapids
▶ Game 5: Sunday, May 26 @ Milwaukee, 6
ECHL
western conference finals
Toledo vs. Kansas City
(Best of Seven Series)
▶ Game 1: Friday @ Toledo, 7:15
▶ Game 2: Saturday @ Toledo, 7:15
▶ Game 3: Monday, May 20 @ Toledo, 7:15 p.m.
▶ Game 4: Friday, May 24 @ Kansas City, 8:05
▶ Game 5: Saturday, May 25 @ Kansas City, 8:05
▶ Game 6: Monday, May 27 @ Kansas City, 5:05 p.m.
▶ Game 7: Wednesday, May 29 @ Kansas City, 8:05am
Road to the Memorial Cup in Saginaw
(Saginaw will be held from May 24th to June 2nd)
▶ Friday, May 24th: Moose Jaw vs. Saginaw, 7:30.
▶ Saturday, May 25th: London vs. Drummondville, 4
▶ Sunday, May 26th: Saginaw vs. Drummondville, 7:30.
▶ Monday, May 27th: London vs. Moose Jaw, 7:30
▶ Tuesday, May 28th: Drummondville vs. Moose Jaw, 7:30
▶ Wednesday, May 29th: Saginaw vs. London, 7:30
▶ Thursday, May 30th: Tiebreaker (if required)
▶ Friday, May 31st: Semi-finals, 7:30
▶ Sunday June 2nd: Last, 7:30
CHL Finals (WHL, OHL, QMJHL)
western hockey league
Moose Jaw vs. Portland
(Moose Jaw won 4-0)
▶ Game 1: Moose Jaw, 3-2
▶ Game 2: Moose Jaw, 5-1
▶ Game 3: Moose Jaw 4-3 (OT)
▶ Game 4: Moose Jaw 4-2
ontario hockey league
Oshawa vs. London
(London won 4-0)
▶ Game 1: London 8-1
▶ Game 2: London 9-1
▶ Game 3: London 7-6 (2OT)
▶ Game 4: London 7-1
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
Baie Comeau vs. Drummondville
(Drummondville won 4-0)
▶ Game 1: Drummondville, 5-0
▶ Game 2: Drummondville, 1-0 (OT)
▶ Game 3: Drummondville 6-2
▶ Game 4: Drummondville 4-3
