The Avalanche eliminate the Kings as Anze Kopitar’s playing career ends, the Sabres humble the Bruins, the Ducks push the Oilers to the brink, and the Lightning even their series with the Canadiens. Details and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF SUNDAY’S PLAYOFF ACTION

NHL.COM: The Colorado Avalanche defeated the Los Angeles Kings 5-1 to sweep their best-of seven first-round series. Nathan MacKinnon scored twice and collected an assist while Gabriel Landeskog picked up two assists for the Avalanche. Joel Edmundson replied for the Kings in what was the final game for team captain Anze Kopitar, who announced last fall that he would be retiring at the end of this season.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avalanche await the winner of the Dallas Stars-Minnesota Wild series, which is currently tied at two games apiece. The previous three games in this series were closely contested, but the Avs’ depth made the difference as the series progressed.

Kopitar received a standing ovation from the Los Angeles crowd as he skated out for his final shift. He was among the best two-way forwards in the game, and ended his career as the greatest player in franchise history.

In 20 NHL seasons (all with the Kings), Kopitar is their all-time leader in games played (1,521), assists (864), and points (1,316). He helped them win two Stanley Cups, took home the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy three times, and the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 2015-16.

A four-goal first period powered the Buffalo Sabres to a 6-1 romp over the Boston Bruins in Game 4 of their first-round series. Alex Tuch, Bowen Byram, Josh Doan, and Peyton Krebs each had a goal and an assist for the Sabres, who hold a 3-1 lead over the Bruins as the series returns to Buffalo for Game 5 on Tuesday. Sean Kuraly scored for the Bruins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Sabres win Game 5, it’ll be their first playoff series victory since 2007.

The Bruins were justifiably embarrassed by their lackluster performance in this game. Head coach Marco Sturm refused to blame starting goaltender Jeremy Swayman, who was hung out to dry by his fellow Bruins. Swayman had some harsh words for his teammates on the bench after he was finally pulled from the game, prompting Sturm to say that at least one of his players had some fire in them on Sunday.

Speaking of the Bruins, winger Viktor Arvidsson left this game in the first period with an upper-body injury.

An overtime goal by Ryan Poehling gave the Anaheim Ducks a 4-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 4 of their first-round series. The Oilers took 2-0 and 3-2 leads, but the Ducks battled back with Jeffrey Viel scoring the tying goal that sent the game into OT. Evan Bouchard had a goal and an assist for the Oilers, who are now on the verge of elimination with the Ducks holding a 3-1 series lead. Game 5 is in Edmonton on Tuesday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There was some controversy over Poehling’s goal. The puck appeared to fully cross the goal line, but it was pinned under the skate of Oilers goalie Tristan Jarry. The on-ice officials had no clear view of it from their vantage points, and there was no conclusive footage in the video reviews. Nevertheless, the ruling from the Situation Room was that the puck had indeed fully crossed the goal line.

The Tampa Bay Lightning overcame a 2-0 deficit to nip the Montreal Canadiens 3-2, tying their series at two games apiece. Brandon Hagel scored twice in the third period while Jake Guentzel had a goal and an assist for the Lightning. Zachary Bolduc and Cole Caufield scored their first goals of this postseason for the Canadiens. The series returns to Tampa Bay for Game 5 on Wednesday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens were cruising with that 2-0 lead in the second period until Lightning defenseman Max Crozier laid out Habs winger Juraj Slakovsky with a thunderous, clean hit at center ice. Slafkovsky left the game but returned for the third period none the worse for wear. Nevertheless, that hit was the turning point, energizing the Lightning players as they rallied back for the victory.

Hagel has been the Lightning’s best player in this series. He leads all postseason scorers with six goals. Meanwhile, sidelined Canadiens defenseman Noah Dobson (thumb injury) has resumed skating and will be reevaluated on Tuesday. If he’s good to go, he could make his series debut on Wednesday.

HEADLINES

THE ATHLETIC: Minnesota Wild winger Matt Boldy’s poise and timely scoring have made him a clutch player in his club’s first-round series with the Dallas Stars.

TRIBLIVE.COM: If the Pittsburgh Penguins hope to overcome a 3-1 series deficit against the Philadelphia Flyers, forwards Anthony Mantha and Egor Chinakhov must regain their scoring touch. Both players have been held scoreless in this series.

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: Speaking of the Flyers, sophomore winger Matvei Michkov could be a healthy scratch in Game 5 against the Penguins on Monday in Pittsburgh. Michkov skated with two of the Flyers’ extra forwards during practice on Sunday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Young Flyers such as Trevor Zegras and Porter Martone have thrived in their first-ever NHL playoff series. However, Michkov has struggled to adjust to the postseason pace and was held scoreless through the first two games.

SPORTSNET: MacKenzie Weegar is relishing his leadership role with the Utah Mammoth in his return to the playoffs for the first time in four years. Weegar was acquired from the Calgary Flames at the March trade deadline and is tied for the team scoring lead in this series with two goals and three points.

TSN: Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin suffered a concussion on Saturday after taking a crushing hit by Ottawa Senators defenseman Tyler Kleven. The Hurricanes swept that series, and Nikishin returned to Carolina with his teammates, where he will continue concussion protocols.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There is currently no timetable for Nikishin’s return.

OTTAWA SUN: Speaking of the Senators, forward Ridly Greig will have a hearing with the league’s department of player safety for sucker-punching the Hurricanes’ Sean Walker during the second period of Game 4.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There was no excuse for Greig’s actions in that situation. It’ll be interesting to see if he gets a slap on the wrist or a multigame suspension at the start of next season.

TSN: Dallas Stars defenseman Nils Lundkvist avoided having to go to the hospital after being struck in the face by a skate blade during Game 4 of his club’s series with the Wild.