Eastern Quarterfinal Nightly Recap

A night by night recap of the RHL playoffs:

Eastern Quarterfinals

New York Islanders - 3 @ Buffalo Sabres - 2 (OVERTIME)

• New York leads series 1-0

Is there anything better than overtime playoff hockey? The atmosphere at First Niagra Center was electric as it was at near capacity (announced attendance 17964). Well, it was up until the Islanders completed the comeback, ending it just 3:25 into the first OT session on a goal Dustin Brown.
The Sabres led 2-0 after 20 on goals by Tyler Johnson, but the Islanders scored a goal in each of the second and third periods to knot the game 2-2, with Brown snapping home the winner on a nice feed from Paul Stastny

Boston Bruins - 1 @ Florida Panthers - 3

• Florida leads series 1-0

BankAtlantic Center was rocking for the first game of the series. Scott Mellanby was the guest of the honour as the Cats battled their way to a 3-1 triumph over the visiting Bruins. 
The first period saw the game scoreless before Florida got going in the second. Goals by Victor Hedman and Joe Thornton gave them a 2-0 lead heading into the third. The teams exchanged goals in the final frame.
John Gibson (BOS) stopped 23 of 26 for a .885 SP%. He'll have to be better if Boston wants to stay in this series.

Tampa Bay Lightning - 4 @ New Jersey Devils - 2

• Tampa Bay leads series 1-0

Night one of the RHL playoffs saw both Florida teams emerge victorious. The sellout crowd at Prudential Center were sent home disappointed as the second wild card Lightning took home game one against Eastern Conference champion Devils.
Kirby Dach and Alex Tuch did their best Harlem Globetrotters impression, connecting on the first three goals of the game, including Tuch's eventual game-winner. 
New Jersey pressed in the third, scoring two after falling behind 4-0, giving the home crowd something to look forward to in game 2. 
Colton Parayko (NJ) skated just 1:48 before getting injuring his torso. He was evaluated after the game and could join the team for Game 6, if the series goes that long.

Philadelphia Flyers - 3 @ Columbus Blue Jackets -2 (OVERTIME)

• Philadelphia leads series 1-0

Playoff hockey at it's finest. A thrilling double OT win for the Flyers. 
Martin Jones and Marc-Andre Fleury were sensational in this on, but Tanner Jeannot played the hero as he ripped one past Fleury just over two minutes into the second OT. Quinn Hughes and Alex Pietrangelo of the Blue Jackets played logged over 38 minutes each, while Philly's Adam Pelech skated just over 30:00 and had 3 blocked shots.

THREE STARS

Sean Couturier (PHI): 2 goals, 5 hits, 6 shots, 2 blocked shots, 2 takeaways, 28:37 TOI
Cale Makar (FLA): 1 goal, 1 assist, 5 shots, 3 takeaways, 21:45 TOI
Alex Tuch (TB): 2 goals, 1 assist, +2, 6 shots, 19:47 TOI, GWG