The NHL postseason, always thrilling entertainment, has taken the suspense to another level with a record-breaking 18 overtime games in the first round. That’s the most extra periods ever for a single round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, surpassing the 17 overtime games played in the first round in 2013.
NHL playoffs’ thrilling 1st round sets record with 18th overtime game
Leafs-Capitals has also tied the record for most OT games in a single series.
Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images
The Washington Capitals and Toronto Maple Leafs went to overtime in their Game 6 matchup on Sunday to set the record. The Boston Bruins and Ottawa Senators tied it earlier in the day when they went to overtime in Game 6 of their series. The Senators won that game, 3-2, to advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Two of the 18 first-round OT battles have needed a second extra period, per USA Today. Every series had at least one overtime game, led by Leafs-Capitals, which went beyond regulation in five of the six matchups. That ties an NHL record, too, with the 1951 Stanley Cup Final between Montreal and Toronto and the 2012 first-round matchup between Chicago and Phoenix.
The Capitals won, 2-1, in Game 6 to eliminate the Leafs on Sunday night.
For the NHL, this is just another example of the unpredictability that’s been fostered by parity across the league. The standings are closer now than ever at the end of each season, which means evenly matched first-round opponents that will often play into extra time.
There might be some downsides to the way the NHL playoff system operates, but given all the thrilling games so far this year, it’s hard to complain at this point.
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