The first night of the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs provided all the drama and intensity you would expect.
The Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning started the party with Game 1 of their first-round series Wedesnday in Florida, and every fan — even those taking selfies — got their money’s worth.
The two teams combined for nine goals in nearly 80 minutes of hockey. Montreal earned the victory at 18:08 of the overtime period when Daniel Briere won a puck battle along the end boards and sent a pass to a wide open Dale Weise right in front of the Lightning net. Weise blasted the puck to the top left corner for the first goal of his playoff career.
The Columbus Blue Jackets and Pittsburgh Penguins opened their first-round series at Consol Energy Center and provided fans with plenty of offense. After the Blue Jackets built a 3-1 lead and appeared to be headed toward their first ever playoff win, the Penguins struck on the power play with two quick goals to tie the score.
In the third period, Brandon Sutter beat Columbus goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky with a wrist shot that gave Pittsbutgh a 4-3 advantage, which it would protect to secure the victory.
Photo via Twitter/@25stanley
