Here are some takeaways from Day 16 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs:
Perry still has game
Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck better be prepared to see plenty of Montreal Canadiens forward Corey Perry in the Stanley Cup Second Round. At age 36, Perry doesn't have the wheels he once did. At the same time, he remains an effective presence in front of the opposing net, consistently creating chaos around the crease. Perry scored the series-winning goal in Montreal's 3-1 win in Game 7 against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday in typical Perry fashion. He was standing in front of the Toronto net when the puck deflected in off a body part. It was the second consecutive game Perry scored a goal while on the doorstep of Maple Leafs goalie Jack Campbell. The list of heroes is long for the Canadiens in their comeback against the Maple Leafs, but Perry, who was tied for second on Montreal with four points (two goals, two assists) in the series, is near the top. -- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer
Slow starts doomed Maple Leafs
Through four games of the Stanley Cup First Round against the Canadiens, the Maple Leafs led the best-of-7 series 3-1 and were rolling, having won three straight. One more victory and they would win their first playoff series since 2004. Not only did they lose the final three games, they would not hold a lead in any of them. In Game 5, they trailed 3-0 before losing 4-3 in overtime. In Game 6, they trailed 2-0 before losing 3-2 in overtime. In Game 7, they again surrendered the first three goals in a 3-1 loss that ended their season. As forward Mitch Marner accurately pointed out, the Maple Leafs are a team that thrives on playing with the lead. Without it, they were always chasing the game. That cost them in the end. -- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer
The Islanders are resilient
The New York Islanders demonstrated their mental toughness in a 4-3 overtime win against the Boston Bruins in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Second Round by rebounding quickly after letting a 3-1 lead slip away in the third period. New York pushed back immediately after Brad Marchand's power-play goal with 4:54 remaining pulled the Bruins even at 3-3 and nearly retook the lead on good scoring chances by Anthony Beauvillier and Jean-Gabriel Pageau on a power play late in the third. New York remained aggressive and composed in overtime and was rewarded when Casey Cizikas scored a breakaway goal at 14:48 to win the game and tie the series. "We just kept going at 'em," forward Kyle Palmieri said. "I think that's a really good team over there, we're a really good team and it's going to be a hard-fought series." -- Tom Gulitti, staff writer
Bruins didn't let up
The Bruins know they're in for a fight against a team that has reached the second round of the playoffs for a third straight season. As expected, the Islanders made adjustments after the Bruins' 5-2 win in Game 1 on Saturday and opening face-off Monday. New York allowed the first goal but answered with three of its own in the second period, and eventually evened the best-of-7 series with a 4-3 overtime win in Game 2. "I think we're playing a good team that decided they had to push harder," Boston coach Bruce Cassidy said. "To me, second periods are momentum periods. I'm going to guess it's the highest-scoring period throughout the League, because when you get momentum in the second period, it's tough to get a line change. You either have to ice the puck or make a clean breakout. You're usually fatigued if you're stuck in your end. That's what happened." -- Brian Compton, deputy managing editor
