The Florida Panthers are advancing to the second round after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 5 with a score of 6-1 on Monday night, winning the best-of-7 series in five games. Aleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe each scored twice in the win, with Evan Rodrigues also scoring for the Panthers.
Florida will next face the winner of the first-round series between the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs; currently, the Bruins lead their series 3-1, with Game 5 scheduled for Tuesday night.
**
The Dallas Stars beat the defending champion Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 on Monday to even their first-round NHL playoffs series, 2-2. Roope Hintz sealed the Stars’ victory, while Evgenii Dadonov, Wyatt Johnston and Ty Dellandrea also scored, and Dallas goalie Jake Oettinger made 33 saves.
Game 5 will take place on Wednesday night in Dallas.
Editorial credit: Adam Vilimek / Shutterstock.com
