All of the Eastern Conference series are now 3-1 after Tampa Bay inexplicably erased their own inspiring two-goals-in-11-seconds surge by conceding two goals in 11 seconds late in Game 4 against the Panthers.
Out west, by contrast, every series reached 2-2 before the Stars were the first to three wins last night in Game 5.
Granted, it’s still hockey — playoff hockey at that — so any of these series could’ve easily turned a different direction. Ottawa could’ve won two OT games instead of losing two before finally getting one and avoiding the sweep. L.A. could have and probably should have gone up 3-1.