Conference finals are approaching the NHL

The Dallas Stars, Las Vegas Golden Knights, New York Islanders find themselves within one win of advancing to the National Hockey League semifinals, the Stars and Golden Knights in the Western Conference, the Islanders in the Eastern Conference.

At the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, the Isles came from being down 1-0 in the second period to a 3-1 lead by evening the score at 1-1 in the second period and scoring twice more in the third to offset a final goal by Philly in the closing minutes and take a 3-1 lead in the series matching the top-seeded Flyers against the 6th-seeded Islanders. The teams play again Tuesday.

Brook Nelson scored twice for New York in the second and third period, the first time trying the score and the second one bringing the lead that the Isles held until the final buzzer. Jean-Gabrial Pageau tallied the other New York goal that brought the third goal. Josh Bailey was credited with a pair of assists and there was one each from AnthonyBeauvillier, and Derick Brassaro. Philly had more shots, 39-32, and the teams were whistled for only two penalties each.

Dallas also has a 3-1 lead in its series by quickly posting three goals in the opening period, adding two more in the third to edge the Colorado Avalanche, 5-4, at Rogers Place Arena in Edmonton Alberta. Colorado trimmed the deficit to 3-2 with a pair of second period goals,and the teams traded two goals each in the third period.

Jamie Benn, Radok Faksa, Dennis Gurianon, Roope Mintz and John Klingberg did the Islander scoring and assists came from Alex Radulov, Joe Panelia, Niro Heiskanen, Klingberg, and Faksa had two. For Colorado, Cale Makar, Vladislav Namesinik scored once and two goals came from ValeriNichushkin. The Stars scored twice on power plays, but were out shot 37-29. Each team was called for six penalties each.

Then there was Las Vegas, the No. 1 seed in the West, ahead now 3-1 in the series by getting past the Vancouver Canucks, 5-3, also in Edmonton Alberta. Max Paciorettypaved the way by scoring twice, and goals also came from William Carlson, NateSchmidt and Charlie Stephenson, with Schmidt adding an assist, and one apiece from Alex Martinez, Shea Theodore and Jon Merrill.

The Golden Knights broke on top 2-0 in the first period and the Canucks added a goal to trim the gap to 2-1, and even took a 3-2 advantage with two scores in the second period, but Las Vegas was not to be denied, tallying three times in the final period. The Vancouver goals came from Bo Horvatm, Elias Pettersson and Tyler Toffoli, and J.T. Miller assisted on all three.

Monday’s schedule includes the Boston Bruins versus the Tampa Bay Lighting, who are up 3-1 in the series, and Colorado facing Dallas again with the same advantage.