The Vancouver Canucks struck first in a wild second-round NHL playoff series opener against the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday and the Florida Panthers pulled even in their best-of-seven matchup against the Boston Bruins.
The two other conference semifinals will resume Thursday night. Here are five things to know.
Conor Garland scored the winner at 14:26 of the third period, just 49 seconds after Nikita Zadorov tied the game for the Canucks.
It was the first playoff meeting between the teams since a second-round series in 1992. The Oilers won that series in six games.
This series features three players who had over 100 points in the regular season.
Edmonton’s Connor McDavid had 132 points and teammate Leon Draisaitl had 106. Vancouver’s J.T. Miller had 103 points.
Lopsided results have been the norm over the first two games between Boston and Florida in the Sunshine State.
The Bruins, coming in hot after a Game 7 overtime win over Toronto last Saturday, rolled to a 5-1 victory in the series opener but the Panthers answered with a 6-1 rout.
Aleksander Barkov had two goals and two assists for Florida. Sam Reinhart added four assists.
The series shifts to Boston for Game 3 on Friday.
The New York Rangers have yet to lose in the post-season this year.
The Carolina Hurricanes will try to end that streak on Thursday night as the best-of-seven series moves to PNC Arena.
Vincent Trocheck scored the winning goal in double overtime on Tuesday to give the Rangers a 4-3 victory and a 2-0 series lead.
The Rangers had a seven-game win streak during their run to a Stanley Cup title in 1994.
The 1985 Edmonton Oilers hold the NHL record with nine straight post-season victories.