The Islanders warm up prior to Game One against the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Qualification Round prior to the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 1, 2020 in Toronto. Credit: Getty Images/Andre Ringuette/Freestyle Photo
It took all of 61 seconds to drive home the point: This is real, beyond the mere it’s-good-to-have-hockey back vibe that animated the runup to the big day.
Unlike baseball and basketball, the NHL returned from its COVID-19 hiatus and dove right into this version of the playoffs on Saturday — the first postseason action in the big four North American sports since Super Bowl LIV six months ago.