Who knew?
Playoff hockey in the late summer still feels like playoff hockey.
A juggernaut has rediscovered its swagger, a perennial contender has been sent home to ponder the future and a trio of other series are going back and forth enough to resemble a thrill ride at Six Flags.
And we're just getting warmed up.
A field that's already been narrowed from 24 to 16 to eight is a few more periods from a final four, which means an exodus from the eastern hub in Toronto to a full-on battle royale at Rogers Place in Edmonton—which will host the Eastern and Western Conference championships through to the Stanley Cup Finals.