It took the most playing minutes to separate Las Vegas and Winnipeg. After two periods Vegas led 4–1 but in the third Winnipeg went into extra gear and shoveled in three goals, the last with just 22 seconds left in the game. So at full time the score was 4–4.
And it took a full overtime period and a little bit of a second for Vegas’ Michael Amadio to finally poke home a fifth and decisive goal behind Connor Hellebuyck in the Winnipeg goal. And the goal, his first of the playoffs, was a little special. The puck came to him via a bounce off Vegas’ Ivan Barbashev’s skate and went between Hellebuyck’s head and glove.
Started screaming
— It is something I will remember forever. I barely saw it go in. I just put it towards the goal and then I heard all the guys on the ice start screaming and that’s when I understood, said Amadio after the game.
Vegas now leads 2–1 in games against Winnipeg in the first round of the best-of-seven playoffs.
The match between Toronto and Tampa also went to extra time after it was 3-3 at full time. In extra time, Toronto was the sharpest and the match ended 4–3 to Toronto after a goal by Morgan Reilly.
Toronto leads 2–1 in games against Tampa.
Swedish assist
The third meeting between the New York Rangers and New Jersey was also not decided during regular time. The first and third periods were goalless but in the second both teams managed to score a goal each and the score at full time was 1–1.
Rangers’ goal was scored by Chris Kreider, assisted by Sweden’s Mika Zibanejad. New Jersey’s goal was scored by Jack Hughes, assisted by Sweden’s Jesper Bratt.
New Jersey, after half an overtime period, became the winner of the night after Dougie Hamilton, again assisted by Jesper Bratt, managed to put the puck behind Rangers goaltender Igor Sjestiorkin to make the final score 2-1.
The result of the night means that the Rangers lead 2-1 in games against New Jersey.