Mama said it wouldn’t be easy: After a combined four one-goal games, including three in overtime, both series in the East Division Group of Death are knotted at 1-1, after the Penguins held on for a 2-1 win over the Islanders in Game 2.
The two East series’ physicality has increased accordingly. Each hard forecheck brings with it the chance of calamity. Each routine outside shot has the remote chance of being pivotal, with the goalies otherwise putting on a show.
That’s the playoffs.
Also, for those unaware: On the U.S. NBC feed last night, Pierre McGuire would not stop raving about Adam Pelech (though he called him a “spider” instead of a “cobra,” showing a shocking lack of creepily intimate knowledge).