UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) — The New York Islanders are the last team standing in the NHL’s East Division.
The Isles are heading to the Stanley Cup semifinals for the second straight year following a 6-2 win over the Boston Bruins. The Islanders took control with a three-goal second period and earned a semifinal rematch against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The game was tied 1-1 in the second until Brock Nelson scored two straight goals in a 7:19 span. Kyle Palmieri made it 4-1 with a stuff shot against Tuukka Rask, who stopped 23 of 27 shots.
Brad Marchand’s second power-play goal of the night drew the Bruins within 4-2 early in the third, but the Islanders iced it on empty-netters by Cal Clutterbuck and Ryan Pulock.
Travis Zajac notched his first playoff goal as an Islander, and Semyon Varlamov handled 23 shots.
It’s the second straight series in which the Islanders won the last three games after trailing 2-1.
