NHL roundup: Avs erase 2-goal deficit, edge Kraken

 

[April 21, 2023]  Artturi Lehkonen and Devon Toews had a goal and assist each, Valeri Nichushkin also scored and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Seattle Kraken 3-2 in Denver in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night.

Alexandar Georgiev turned away 27 shots for the Avalanche, who overcame a two-goal deficit and evened the Western Conference series at 1-1. Game 3 is Saturday night in Seattle.

Justin Schultz and Brandon Tanev scored for the Kraken, Yanni Gourde assisted on both goals and Philipp Grubauer made 38 saves.

Colorado got the tiebreaking goal off a third-period faceoff. Nathan MacKinnon won it, and the puck eventually went to Lehkonen, whose shot got through traffic. Grubauer made the save, but the rebound came to Toews in the first circle, and his shot to the far post at 12:59 gave the Avalanche their first lead of the series.

Golden Knights 5, Jets 2

Mark Stone scored two third-period goals and also had an assist to lead Vegas over Winnipeg in Game 2 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series in Las Vegas.

Chandler Stephenson and William Karlsson each finished with a goal and assist and Jack Eichel scored his first career playoff goal for Vegas, which evened the best-of-seven series 1-1. Alex Pietrangelo and Phil Kessel each had two assists for the Golden Knights, and Laurent Brossoit finished with 31 saves for his first career playoff victory.

Adam Lowry and Kevin Stenlund scored for Winnipeg. Connor Hellebuyck made 34 saves.

Maple Leafs 7, Lightning 2

John Tavares scored three goals, Morgan Rielly added four assists and Toronto defeated visiting Tampa Bay in Game 2 of a first-round Eastern Conference playoff series.

Apr 20, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights forward Mark Stone (61) celebrates with Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Alec Martinez (23), Vegas Golden Knights center Brett Howden (21), and Vegas Golden Knights center William Karlsson (71) after scoring a goal against the Winnipeg Jets during the third period of game two of the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Mitchell Marner added two goals and an assist for the Maple Leafs, who evened the best-of-seven series at one win apiece. William Nylander contributed a goal and an assist and Zach Aston-Reese scored a goal for Toronto. Auston Matthews registered two assists, and Ilya Samsonov stopped 20 shots.

Ian Cole and Corey Perry scored for Tampa Bay, and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 30 saves.

Rangers 5, Devils 1

Chris Kreider scored two power-play goals and Patrick Kane tallied once in a three-point game to lead New York to a second consecutive 5-1 victory over New Jersey in Game 2 of their playoff series in Newark, N.J.

Vladimir Tarasenko and Kaapo Kakko also scored for the Rangers. Defenseman Adam Fox collected two more assists, giving him six through the first two games of the playoffs, and Igor Shesterkin made 22 saves for the win.

Erik Haula recorded the lone goal for the Devils, and Vitek Vanecek stopped 25 shots.

--Field Level Media

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