NHL Playoffs: Panthers and Stars Take Series Leads with Big Wins
The NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs continued on Monday and Tuesday with strong victories for the Florida Panthers and Dallas Stars, putting both teams ahead in their respective first-round series.
Panthers Roar Back to Edge Lightning, Lead Series 3-1
On Monday, 28 April, the Florida Panthers defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2 in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference First Round series. The Panthers now lead the series 3-1 and are just one win away from advancing.
The game was close early on, with both teams failing to score in the first period. Florida trailed 2-1 in the second but turned the match around with two quick goals in just 11 seconds, shifting momentum completely.
Sam Jones, Aaron Ekblad, and Anton Lundell each scored for the Panthers, with Lundell also providing an assist. The Panthers now have a chance to finish the series in Game 5.
Stars Shine Bright in Dominant Win Over Avalanche
On Tuesday, 29 April, the Dallas Stars powered past the Colorado Avalanche with a 6-2 victory in Game 5 of their Western Conference First Round matchup. The win gives the Stars a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Dallas started strong, scoring two goals in the first period and never looked back. Wyatt Johnston was the standout performer with two goals and an assist, while Mikko Rantanen also had a strong showing with one goal and two assists.
Goaltender Jake Oettinger made 26 saves and posted a .929 save percentage to help secure the win for Dallas.
The Stars will aim to close out the series in Game 6, while Colorado must fight to stay alive.
