Defending champion Tampa Bay now leads 3-1 in their series against Carolina after their 6-4 home win. For their part, the New York Islanders are back to 2-2 in their series against Boston thanks to their 4-1 success on their ice.
Tampa Bay clings to its Stanley Cup! The Lightning is on track to advance to the semi-finals, after their 6-4 home win that allows them to lead 3-1 in their streak against Carolina, who finished ahead of them in the regular season (first against third) . This meeting was rich in twists and turns, with eight goals in the second third, unheard of in the play-offs since 2010! Tampa Bay opened the scoring with Brayden Point in the 15th minute, but Carolina turned things around in 39 minutes, scoring thanks to Teuvo Teravainen (25th) and Jesper Fast (26th). Steven Stamkos equalized for the Lightning in the 30th, but the Hurricanes then led 4-2 thanks to Dougie Hamilton (31st) and Jaccob Slavin (33rd). The beginning of the end for Carolina, who then conceded four goals in twelve minutes, by Nikita Kucherov (35th), Tyler Johnson (38th), Steven Stamkos (40th) and again Kucherov (47th)! The Russian is also the current top scorer in these play-offs, with 5 goals and 12 assists. Tampa Bay will have the opportunity to wrap up the series on Tuesday, but it will still be away.
Four unanswered goals?
Well, why not ????♂️ pic.twitter.com/MFz23L7XJk
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) June 5, 2021
The Islanders hang on
In the other game of the night, the New York Islanders, fourth in the regular season, fell to 2-2 in their streak against third-place Boston with a 4-1 victory. The score was 1-1 after two thirds, following goals from David Krejci (24th) and Kyle Palmieri (27th), but it all came down to the final third, where the Islanders upped the pace and scored three goals in the final seven minutes, the last two with an empty goal, by Mathew Barzal (54th), Casey Cizikas (59th) and Jean-Gabriel Pageau (60th). The suspense is therefore complete in this series, even if Boston still has home advantage, with two more games to play at home, the next one starting this Monday.
#Isles take the lead! pic.twitter.com/aEByZu3ged
— x – New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) June 6, 2021
NHL / PLAY-OFFS 2021
2nd round
Central division
Carolina Hurricanes (1) – Tampa Bay Lightning (3) : 1-3
Match 1 – Carolina Hurricanes – Tampa Bay Lightning : 1-2
Match 2 – Carolina Hurricanes – Tampa Bay Lightning : 1-2
Match 3 – Tampa Bay Lightning – Carolina Hurricanes : 2-3 (ap)
Match 4 – Tampa Bay Lightning – Carolina Hurricanes : 6-4
Match 5 : Carolina Hurricanes – Tampa Bay Lightning June 8
Match 6 (if necessary): Tampa Bay Lightning – Carolina Hurricanes June 10
Match 7 (if necessary): Carolina Hurricanes – Tampa Bay Lightning June 12
East division
Boston Bruins (3) – New York Islanders (4) : 2-2
Match 1 – Boston Bruins – New York Islanders : 5-2
Match 2 – Boston Bruins – New York Islanders : 3-4 (ap)
Match 3 – New York Islanders – Boston Bruins : 1-2 (ap)
Match 4 – New York Islanders – Boston Bruins : 4-1
Match 5 : Boston Bruins – New York Islanders June 7
Match 6 : New York Islanders – Boston Bruins June 9
Match 7 (if necessary): Boston Bruins – New York Islanders June 11
–
