Second Round Starts With Two Overtimes

Get your programs here!  The second round of the playoffs opened up on Thursday night, as the NHL pushes their schedule to the limits, thanks to the divisional schedule that they had devised at the beginning of the year.  I mean, if we need to find any benefit from this format, I think this could be one.  I still miss the regular seeding, but I'll manage.

The big, bad Bruins were playing host to their long-time rivals from Montreal, opening up an Original Six playoff round against the Canadiens and it was the visitors who were the ones making all the noise.

It wasn't like the hosts were playing nice, as the Bruins were outshooting the Canadiens, 22-17 through two periods, but the Canadiens made the most of their chances, as they were up 2-0 going into the final frame.  Montreal was leaning on their number one keeper heavily to keep that lead and Carey Price was up to the task.

The 3rd period, however, the Bruins found a way to break through, as they scored a pair of goals in just over three minutes to tie the game up before the 7-minute mark.  Montreal found a 3-2 lead, but a late marker from Johnny Boychuk at the point sent the series opener to overtime.

The 1st overtime period solved nothing, but both goalies had to be sharp, the Bruins outshooting the Canadiens again, 14-6.  It wasn't until the 2nd overtime period before the deadlock was broken, as P.K. Subban scored his second goal of the game to win it, as the Habs made short work of Boston's home-ice advantage and got the jump on their less-than-hospitable foes.

Subban came away with 3 points in the game, while Price stopped 48 shots for his 2 points in Game One and it is worth mentioning that Andrei Markov also finished with a pair of assists for Montreal.  Brad Marchand finally got off the snide with a couple assists of his own on Thursday night, his first 2 points of the playoffs, much to the delight of his 14 picks.

It was a good night for 6th place, Corey M., who found 9 points on opening night. Five out of his six players taking part in Game One picked up points, including three out of the four notable players above.  That's not a bad start to the second round.

Don D.'s lead is down to 10 points, as the chase begins and the position shuffling continues.  Seward, Chris & Brady all swapped some spots in the top four, but everyone behind them continues to keep up or gain bits and pieces.