NHL ‘Offs Update

The first two games have been completed in seven of the eight NHL best of seven preliminary series with three teams coming away with (2-0) series leads.

Two of them, the East top seed Carolina Hurricanes (vs the Ottawa Senators, the second win in overtime) and Philadelphia Flyers (won the first two at Pittsburgh (Penguins) are in the same division/bracket and appear to be on a “quarters collision.”

Colorado (Avalanche, by (2-1) scores in both home tilts, the second last night on Nathan Mc Kinnon’s goal, in O.T.) the league’s President’s Trophy winner, usually not an omen for good ‘offs result(s), also leads (2-0) in their prelim, that against the L.A. Kings.

Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference, last night both the Boston Bruins vs the Buffalo Sabres and Tampa Bay Lightning (vs Montreal) squared their prelims with game 2 wins.

Out west/West, (always, ode to the great Jerry West), on consecutive nights, first the Dallas Stars at home vs their old city as the North Stars (Minne Wild) and Utah Mammoth at “reg”division winning Las Vegas won #2’s to get even.

Tonight Edmonton (Oilers) which won its opener despite no points from McDavid seeks a (2-0) lead in a home #2 vs the Anaheim Ducks.