The NHL’s first round of the playoffs is always good, but this year five out of the eight series went to a seventh game. With the pressure of a first round exit, many teams faced elimination heading into game seven.

Only one series was over early and that was the Colorados Avalanche versus the Nashville Predators while the Avalanche came in with a clean sweep. The expected win from the Avalanche will send them to the second round of the playoffs to play the St. Louis Blues.  

The Pittsburgh Penguins had a 3-1 series lead on Wednesday, trying to take the series win, they were up 2-0 halfway into the second period. Then the Rangers, on the brink of elimination, fought back and took game 5, forcing a game 6 back in Pittsburg. New York came back and won the next three games taking game seven in overtime and securing a series win. The Rangers are on their way to play the Carolina hurricane in round 2. 

The Carolina hurricane played a tough series against the Boston bruins and took the series in game seven setting up a date with the Rangers in the critical second round.

The Lightning are another team that won game seven in overtime as they defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday night. They will meet up with the President Trophy winner the Florida Panthers. These two have a second round series that will be dubbed the battle of the Sunshine State

Over in the Western Conference, the St. Louis Blues faceoff against the top seeded Colorado Avalanche. Most of the national media don;t give the Blues a chance but look out for this battle tested veteran team to leave their mark.

The other series has two Canadian teams both who went to game seven in the first round. Edmonton and Calgary should be a series full of fast skating and good goaltending as these two teams from north of the border look to advance.