There’s nothing quite like the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Constant hockey, with games staggered so you can switch between them and never have to watch an intermission panel. Upsets, injuries, and drama of all kinds. It’s pure chaos, and almost too much to keep up with.
Last night saw each series switch locations so the lower-seeded teams got a chance to host. At TD Garden, Boston avoided a 3-0 series deficit with a decisive 4-2 victory over Carolina that was mostly powered by special teams. In Tampa Bay, Toronto took a 3-0 lead in the second and did exactly what was expected of them - which is to say, they gave up the next two goals - before some late-game heroics from Jack Campbell and a couple of empty net goals helped them hold on to the lead.