The Vancouver Canucks struck first in a wild second-round NHL playoff series opener against the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday and the Florida Panthers pulled even in their best-of-seven matchup against the Boston Bruins.
The two other conference semifinals will resume Thursday night. Here are five things to know:
VAN WILDER
The Oilers silenced the vocal crowd at Rogers Arena when Zach Hyman scored a power-play goal just over two minutes into the game.
Edmonton built a three-goal lead midway through the second period before giving up four unanswered goals in a 5-4 loss to Vancouver.
Conor Garland scored the winner at 14:26 of the third period, just 49 seconds after Nikita Zadorov tied the game for the Canucks.
It was the first playoff meeting between the teams since a second-round series in 1992. The Oilers won that series in six games.
This series features three players who had over 100 points in the regular season. Edmonton91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s Connor McDavid had 132 points and teammate Leon Draisaitl had 106. Vancouver91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s J.T. Miller had 103 points.
The Canucks will host Game 2 on Friday.
REVERSE TREND
Lopsided results have been the norm over the first two games between Boston and Florida in the Sunshine State.
The Bruins, coming in hot after a Game 7 overtime win over Toronto last Saturday, rolled to a 5-1 victory in the series opener but the Panthers answered with a 6-1 rout.
Aleksander Barkov had two goals and two assists for Florida. Sam Reinhart added four assists.
The series shifts to Boston for Game 3 on Friday.
HOT STREAK
The New York Rangers have yet to lose in the post-season this year.
The Carolina Hurricanes will try to end that streak on Thursday night as the best-of-seven series moves to PNC Arena.
Vincent Trocheck scored the winning goal in double overtime on Tuesday to give the Rangers a 4-3 victory and a 2-0 series lead.
The Rangers had a seven-game win streak during their run to a Stanley Cup title in 1994. The 1985 Edmonton Oilers hold the NHL record with nine straight post-season victories.
COMEBACK KIDS
The Dallas Stars got a first-hand look at the powerful Colorado offence in their series opener.
The visitors will try again to snag home-ice advantage from the Avalanche on Thursday night at Ball Arena.
Miles Wood scored his first career post-season overtime goal in Colorado91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s 4-3 win in Game 1.
The Stars had a 3-0 lead after 17 minutes of play.
LINDSAY FINALISTS
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews is one of three finalists for the NHL Players91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™ Association91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s Ted Lindsay Award.
The honour is presented annually to the league91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s most outstanding player as voted by fellow members of the NHLPA.
Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov and Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon are the other finalists.
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