Stanley Cup Playoffs: Lightning Outlast Jackets In 5OT Classic; Flames, Knights Also Claim Series Openers As Round Of 16 Opens

The Stanley Cup Playoffs' Round of 16 opened in Canada on Tuesday with four games.

All series henceforth through the final are best of seven.

EASTERN CONFERENCE (All games played at Toronto):


Brayden Point scored the game winner (his second goal of the game) at 10:27 of the fifth overtime period as the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2 in the opening game of their conference quarterfinal series.

Andrei Vasilevskiy saved 61 of 63 saves for the victory.

The Jackets' Joonas Korpisalo played gallantly in goal, saving a playoff-record 85 of 88 shots in defeat.

The game was the fourth longest in playoff history.



WESTERN CONFERENCE (All games played at Edmonton):

Game #1:

Dillon Dube scored twice (once on the power play) while Rassmus Andersson scored the game winner in the third period as the Calgary Flames defeated the Dallas Stars 3-2 in their series opener.

Game #2:

Reilly Smith scored twice in the third period as the Vegas Golden Knights overpowered the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1 in their series-opening contest.