Canes     5  (OT)

Isles       4

The Eastern playoffs sure kicked off in style with a high scoring thriller that had to be decided in overtime! This game certainly had a bit of everythng in it with goals, hits, fights, and great goaltending. 9 goals in a game allowed doesn't scream great goaltending but with both tenders making over 40 saves and over 100 combined the goaltending was supurb! As we have said 100 times before this is a game that someone had to lose but didn't deserve and on this particular evening it was the hometown Isles and A. Vasilevskiy that had to leave the arena disappointed. Vasilevskiy had to be particularily let down following a 61 save performance only to lose this one however as his team couldn't find a way to net the winner behind surprise starter K. KaHkonen. Kahkonen had been brought in by Carolina to be the starter at the beginning of the year but had been underwhelming for most of the season losing his job to V.Vanecek but got the nod to open the playoffs for the visiting Canes. When asked about this GM Rich had this to say " we knew we were underdogs heading into NY and just felt that we should give Kahkonen a chance to be the player we brought him in to be! This was his opportunity to shine and we had confidence in moving back to Vanecek if things didn't work out so no real surprise to us. This makes for a very good situation if your team has confidence in both goalies and we do" This game didn't look like it was going to be a 1 goal affair early on as Carolina came out flying pumping 22 shots on goal enroute to a 2-0 lead but suddenly the Isle's found life in the last 2 minutes of the first period netting 2 of their own to exit the frame in a very flattering tie. Carolina was clearly rattled by that turn of events as they entered the second and simply didn't have the same spring in their step. When the hometown Isles took their first lead of the game at the mid-way point of the second on the PP it looked like the visitors from Carolina had let their chance slipped away. Connor Garland potted his first of the playoffs to put the Isle's up by 2 halfway into the third but Carolina continued to pepper Vasilevskiy adding another 21 third period shots for a total of 55 through 3 periods. C. Stephenson scored his second of the game to force overtime with a little over a minute remaining to stun the frenzied home crowd and give the visiting Canes another chance at a victory. This time the Hurricanes wouldn't let their chance slip away when Captain and future hall of famer E.Malkin buried his first of the playoffs to secure a very well earned victory for the visitors. A truly great opening game to the eastern conference playoffs. Isle's will look to salvage a split on home ice with Canes up 1-0

Flyers    7

Jackets  3

This game was a bit of a stunner as the visitors from Philly made a statement taking game 1 rather easily in Columbus. As mentioned by several other BRHL GM's leading up to this match-up it is expected to be a close series so the fact GM Anthony and his Flyers won the game isn't the stunning part. The relative ease and lack of goaltending displayed was clearly the stunning part! The Flyers took a 3-1 lead to the third with a fairly even game being played which although not ideal for the homeside was a managable defecit. Blake Wheeler started the third period scoring however for the visitors to put them up 4-1 and game over right??? Not so fast, Columbus quickly netter a pair to cut the lead to 4-3 and with the home crowd erupting it was game on right??? Not so fast, despite all the momentum and the home crowd J. Markstrom was unable to look anything like himself in this one surrendering another 3 goals to close out the game. The stat line on Markstrom was 27 saves on 34 shots for a .794 save %.....that is ugly in any league and GM Jesse will be hoping for a much better performance going forward or forward will be stopped in no time! Mission accomplished for Philly stealing home ice and up 1-0

Bruins     2

Wings    0

Perhaps the third stunner of the evening saw the retooling Bruins shut out the hometown (and wagon!!!) Red Wings. How many people predicted these 3 visitors from the East would steal home ice in Game 1??? This game was a razor thin affair with not much to talk about other then there was not much to talk about. Both teams had limited PP opportunities.... both teams failed to score with those opportunities....both teams had 33 shots on goal....both teams got solid starting goaltending! The only thing different between these teams is one team got shut out...thats it ....thats all....there ain't no more to say! Bruins steal home ice up 1-0

Leafs     3

Habs     5

GM Garrett and his Leafs headed to Montreal looking to keep the eastern visitor sweep alive but it was just not to be. This was not from a lack of trying however as the visitors from Toronto had built a 3-1 lead 5 minutes into the second. The hometown Habs had other ideas however and despite a poor opening 20+ minutes flipped the script netting 2 late second period goals to tie the affair. Much like the Canes in the earlier match-up the visiting Leafs put out a strong third period effort in hopes of getting the early series advantage but A.Forsberg was having none of it turning away all 16 shots he faced! D. Severson was able to net the go ahead tally early in the third  on the PP with Bo Horvat salting the victory away with the empty netter and although the Habs were the second best team on this night, they came away with a victory and are the lone eastern team to hold serve to this point! Habs up 1-0