In Tuesday’s NHL Eastern Conference playoff games, the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 7-3, while the New York Rangers beat the New Jersey Devils 5-1.
* The Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 7-3 on the road Tuesday to take a 1-0 lead in their first-round playoff matchup. Tampa Bay’s Pierre-Edouard Bellemare scoring just 1:18 into the game, with the Lightning taking a 2-0 lead minutes later on a goal from Anthony Cirelli. Tampa Bay earned the victory despite injuries to defensemen Victor Hedman, Erik Cernak and forward Michael Eyssimont in the second period. Game 2 is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Thursday in Toronto.
* The New York Rangers earned their 5-1 win over the Devils at the Prudential Center on Tuesday to take a 1-0 series lead in their first-round playoff series. Chris Kreider led New York with two goals, with Adam Fox adding a game-high 4 assists. Igor Shesterkin made 27 saves in the win, having a shutout snapped on a Jack Hughes penalty shot late in the third period. Game 2 is scheduled for Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET in New Jersey.
The NHL Western Conference matchups saw the Seattle Kraken defeat the Colorado Avalanche 3-1, while the Winnipeg Jets beat the Vegas Golden Knights 5-1.
* The Seattle Kraken won their Stanley Cup Playoff debut, defeating the defending champion Colorado Avalanche 3-1 in Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round at Ball Arena in Denver on Tuesday. In their first playoff game in Kraken history, Alex Wennberg had a goal and an assist, Eeli Tolvanen scored, and Philipp Grubauer made 34 saves for Seattle, the first wild card in the West in its second NHL season. Game 2 will take place Thursday at 9:30 p.m. in Colorado.
* Blake Wheeler had a goal and two assists for the Winnipeg Jets, leading them to a 5-1 win against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday. Adam Lowry scored twice, Pierre-Luc Dubois had a goal and an assist, and Connor Hellebuyck made 16 saves for Winnipeg, which is the second wild card from the West. Game 2 is scheduled for Thursday at 10:00 p.m. in Las Vegas.
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