Eastern Semifinal Nightly Recap

Eastern Semifinal

New York Islanders - 2 @ Florida Panthers - 6

• Florida leads series 1-0

After sweeping the Bruins in the first round, the Panthers showed no rust in taking down the Islanders 6-2 in the opening game of their second round series.

After going down on 1-0 on Dustin Brown's 5th goal of the playoffs, Florida rattled off the next 6 goals. Artemi Panarin and Nick Suzuki had two goals each. John Tavares, Cale Makar and Victor Hedman contributed with 2 assists apiece while Trever Zegras had a goal and a helper. Tomas Tatar had the other goal for the Islanders. 

Jack Campbell (NYI) lasted just over half the game before being replaced by Devan Dubnyk. Campbell stopped 14 of 18 with Dubnyk turning aside 14 of 16.

Columbus Blue Jackets - 2 @ New Jersey Devils - 3 (OT)

• New Jersey leads series 1-0

The Devils had better things to do than hang around and get into one of those lengthy playoff overtime games.

Just 37 seconds into the extra session, Dylan Larkin got the majority of a sold-out Prudential Center out of their seats when he found some extra space and beat Marc-Andre Fleury.

The Blue Jackets were unable to hold off the Devils depsite holding the lead twice in the game (1-0, 2-1). Max Pacioretty (5th of playoffs) and Colin Miller (1st) scored for Columbus with Yegor Sharangovich (2nd) and Oliver Bjorkstrand (4th) scored the other goals for New Jersey.

THREE STARS

Dylan Larkin (NJD): 1 goal (GWG), +1, 3 hits, 2 shots, 1 giveaway, 17:52 TOI
Victor Hedman (FLA): 2 assists, +1, 3 hits, 4 shots, 2 takeaways, 28:09 TOI
Frederik Andersen (FLA): 34 saves, .944 SP%