Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3 New York Rangers
The New York Rangers became the second team to be officially eliminated from the playoffs as the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated them 4-3 at Scotiabank Arena.
It was a fast start from the Buds, who got goals from Jake McCabe and Nick Robertson in the opening frame, before Dakota Joshua made it 3-0 early on in the second. Already finding themselves in a hole, the Rangers had to get to scoring, and with haste.
Alexis Lafreniere got them on the board midway through the period before Mika Zibanejad gave the guests hope with a marker with less than two minutes left before intermission. The goal put him fourth all-time in scoring for the Rangers.
After John Tavares got Toronto's fourth, Zibanejad found the back of the net again. With a little less than seven minutes to go, New York were only a goal down.
In the end, it was not to be for the Rangers, who could not find their leveller. In what was their sixth loss in a row, they stay at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, eight points back of the Florida Panthers. The Leafs enjoyed back-to-back victories, though they are still 10 points out from a postseason spot.
Buffalo Sabres 3-4 Boston Bruins (OT)
A back-and-forth game in Buffalo saw the Boston Bruins defeat the Sabres 4-3 in overtime.
David Pastrnak got the scoring going 11:07 into the game, before Jason Zucker responded on the power play towards the end of the period.
Viktor Arvidsson made it 2-1 in the second as Boston found their way back in front. However, they were once again unable to hold on, as Zach Benson tied the game for the Sabres. Zucker then converted his second power play goal of the game 34 seconds later to give the Sabres their first lead of the night.
They could not hold on though, as Casey Mittelstadt responded with six minutes to go in regulation. With overtime required, the Bruins got their winner through Pavel Zacha, who needed just 38 seconds in the five-minute period to end the game and give his team the victory.
The Bruins are now in fifth spot in the East thanks to the win, their third from their last four. The Sabres, however, remain eight points in front, but sit second to the Carolina Hurricanes.
