Stanley Cup Playoffs: Wild, Ducks Win Opening-Round Series

Two games were contested on Thursday as the Stanley Cup Playoffs continued. 

WESTERN CONFERENCE: 

At Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, Minnesota: 

Matt Boldy scored a pair of empty-net goals as the Minnesota Wild defeated the visiting Dallas Stars 5-2 and won their opening-round series four games to two. 

The Wild will next face the Colorado Avalanche in a conference semifinal series, starting in Denver, with date, time, and network/streaming series to be determined.  

At Honda Center, Anaheim, California:  

Ryan Poehling, Chris Kreider, Cutter Gauthier (power play), Troy Terry, and Leo Carlsson (empty net) each scored once as the Anaheim Ducks closed out the Edmonton Oilers 5-2 to win their conference quarterfinal series four games to two.  

The Ducks will next take on the winner of the Vegas Golden Knights-Utah Mammoth series, in which Vegas leads three games to two.

NBA Playoffs: Knicks, Wolves Advance To Conference Semis; 76ers Force Game 7 With Celtics

 The NBA Playoffs continued on Thursday with three game.

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

At State Farm Arena, Atlanta:

O.G. Anunoby scored 29 points while Mikal Bridges added 24 as the New York Knicks, with all five starters scoring in double-digits, made fried chicken of the visiting Atlanta Hawks 140-89 in game six of their conference quarterfinal series and won it four games to two.

Jalen Johnson paced the Hawks with 21 points while pulling in eight rebounds.

The Knicks will take on the winner of the Boston-Philadelphia series, deadlocked at three games and to decided on Saturday.

At Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia:

Tyrese Maxey scored 30 points while Paul George added 23, and Joel Embiid contributed 19 (to go with ten rebounds and eight assists) as the Philadelphia 76ers squared their series with the Boston Celtics at three games apiece with a 106-93 home victory.  All five starters scored in double-figures for the Sixers.

Jaylen Brown led the Beantowners with 18 points while Jayson Tatum added 17, to go with his 11 rebounds.

The series, and the right to face the New York Knicks in a conference semifinal series,  will be decided on Saturday at 4:30 PM Pacific Time on NBC/Peacock.

WESTERN CONFERENCE:

At Target Center, Minneapolis:

Jaden McDaniels scored 34 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Minnesota Timberwolves eliminated the visiting Denver Nuggets 110-98 to win their conference quarterfinal series four games to two.

Terrance Shannon, Jr. added 24 points to the Wolves' cause.

Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 28 points, along with 10 assists and nine rebounds.  Cameron Johnson added 27, to go with his eight rebounds.

The Timberwolves will face the San Antonio Spurs in a Western Conference semifinal series, starting this coming Monday at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas (time and network/streaming service to be determined).