If Monday night’s Games 1 were any indication, we completely oversold the excitement of the first round of the NHL playoffs.
- The Maple Leafs torched the back-to-back defending champion Lightning 5-0, including two goals from Auston Matthews.
- The Hurricanes started slow but eventually ran away with things on the Bruins in Raleigh, 5-1.
- The Blues rode a dizzying string of power play goals (including a David Perron hat trick all from the same spot) and a Ville Husso playoff debut shutout to humble the Wild, 4-0.
You had to stay up late to get a close game, as the Kings pulled ahead of the Oilers with five minutes left to upset the home team, 4-3.