CBJ       2

Isles      3 (OT)

The east kicked off round 2 in style with both games going to overtime. This recap can be pretty much copied and pasted for the next as both games had a very familiar tone to them. The hometown Isles had a bit of extra spring in their step having had a few days off after dispatching Carolina whereas Columbus was forced to grind out a 7 game series and were a tad slow out of the gate. New York seemed in control throughout having more of the play with the fans pushing them every second and never trailed in this one. It was a tad flattering to Columbus to even force overtime as J. Markstrom did his job yet again keeping his team alive making 35 regulation saves. A new record had to be set in overtime as I am not even sure Columbus had lined up for puck drop before it ended. Somehow A. Barkov won the draw, skated into the Columbus end, and blasted the winner in just 3 seconds to end it.....surely that is a record!!! Nonetheless, it is a win for New York and a 1-0 series lead to get it started!

Bruins     2

Habs      3 (OT)

The second game of the night went exactly to script....did the sim just skip like an old LP???? J. Saros (this seasons sim darling???) stood on his head early and often making 16 first period saves until his mates decided to make an appearance for the second. Unlike Columbus above the Bruins were able to take advantage of their goalies stellar play in the second when they actually netted a pair of early goals to take a lead to the third. The sim gods decided to reward Montreal for their earlier play however when they tied it in the third to force overtime and then again in overtime having had the better of the play once again. Montreal was the better team on this night putting 46 shots on goal to the Boston 31 and could have escaped with the win earlier but a win is a win regardless how it comes. Habs up 1-0