Islanders Take Series Lead; Montreal Completes Sweep

June 8, 2021 3:54 am

UNDATED (AP) – Mathew Barzal scored one power-play goal and assisted on another, and Semyon Varlamov stopped 40 shots to give the New York Islanders a 5-4 victory over the Boston Bruins and a 3-2 lead in their second-round playoff series.  The Islanders have won two in a row to take their first lead in the series. They can advance to the Stanley Cup semifinals in Game 6 at home Wednesday. Kyle Palmieri, Josh Bailey and Jordan Eberle all scored in the second period, when the Islanders opened a 4-2 lead. Brock Nelson made it 5-2 just two minutes into the third after Jeremy Swayman replaced Tuukka Rask in the Bruins goal.
And in other Monday NHL playoff action: Tyler Toffoli scored at 1:39 of overtime to lift the Montreal Canadiens to a 3-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets and a four-game sweep of their second-round playoff series. Erik Gustafsson and Artturi Lehkonen scored in regulation for Montreal, which has won seven straight playoff games since trailing Toronto 3-1 in the opening round. Toffoli also had an assist. Carey Price made 14 saves. Montreal awaits the winner of the Colorado-Vegas series, which is tied 2-2. Game 5 is tonight in Denver. Rookie defenseman Logan Stanley had two goals for Winnipeg