Feels a little more normal now, eh?
Even without fans in the buildings, goalies have still been pulled. Teeth have still been dislodged. Multi-overtime games have still driven passionate fans and seasoned announcers to the point of incredulity.
And we're only halfway done.
Indeed, with the completion of the last few "first-round" playoff series late last week, the NHL postseason pack has been reduced to an elite eight who will battle it out in best-of-seven series to further whittle the surviving field to four teams, then two teams and then...drum roll, please...one new Stanley Cup champion.