Four Loco: NHL plays 4 OT playoff games in crazy night
In Toronto, Tyler Bozak's tip-in put a charge into the Air Canada Centre. Ditto with Nashville when the Predators scored in OT for another win over Chicago.
They had some extra fun in Boston and Calgary, too, before Ottawa and Anaheim finally broke through.
There are few thrills quite like overtime playoff hockey, and the NHL hasn't had a night with this sort of excitement in more than 30 years. All four postseason games Monday went to OT for the first time since April 10, 1985, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The only other time it happened before that was April 11, 1980.
Toronto Maple Leafs players celebrate Tyler Bozak's game-winning goal against the Washington Capitals during overtime in Game 3 of an NHL Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Toronto on Monday, April 17, 2017. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
"Those are the most fun games to play, definitely" Bozak said.
There's been fun to go around in these playoffs.
Eleven of 24 postseason games have gone to overtime in the first round, including all three games between Toronto and Washington and two between Ottawa and Boston. All eight first-round series have included at least one OT finish. The record for an entire postseason is 17 overtime games in 2013.
And with underdogs like Nashville, Toronto and St. Louis threatening early upsets, these playoffs are getting an extra boost.
"It was a 10," Predators coach Peter Laviolette said of the atmosphere Monday. "I'm not sure there's another place like it."
Nashville got its win behind a backhand goal from 20-year-old Kevin Fiala 16:44 into OT, the longest game of the night. Fiala and teammates Mike Fisher and James Neal jumped together into the end boards to celebrate a 3-0 series lead over the top-seeded Blackhawks.
The quickest end came in Calgary, where Anaheim stunned the Flames. Perry scored 90 seconds into extra time, helping the Ducks rally from three-goals down to win - a first in the team's postseason history. Around the Saddledome, fans in red sweaters threw up their arms in frustration before quietly making their way to the exits.
Boston's TD Garden crowd didn't disperse so easily. Bobby Ryan's winner came on the power play following a disputed roughing call against the Bruins' Riley Nash, and fans rained boos on the officials and threw items onto the ice in protest.
And then there's the party in Toronto, which hadn't hosted a playoff game since 2013. Bozak's goal 1:37 into overtime, putting the Leafs ahead of Washington 2-1 in their first-round series. Bozak celebrated by jumping on Nazem Kadri, who passed the puck to set up the winner, and then the pair was mobbed by the rest of the squad.
"It's a lot of emotion," Bozak said. "You just want to be with your teammates and celebrate."
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Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby (70) looks on as the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrate the game-winning goal during overtime in Game 3 of an NHL Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Toronto on Monday, April 17, 2017. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Ottawa Senators right wing Bobby Ryan, top, celebrates after his game-winning goal off Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask (40) during overtime in Game 3 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series in Boston, Monday, April 17, 2017. The Senators defeated the Bruins 4-3. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Ottawa Senators right wing Bobby Ryan, facing front, celebrates with teammates after his game-winning goal off Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask (40) during overtime in Game 3 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series in Boston, Monday, April 17, 2017. The Senators defeated the Bruins 4-3. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Calgary Flames players watch from the bench as the Anaheim Ducks celebrate their overtime victory during overtime in Game 3 of a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series in Calgary, Alberta, Monday, April 17, 2017. (Larry MacDougal/The Canadian Press via AP)
Nashville Predators players celebrate after beating the Chicago Blackhawks in overtime in Game 3 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series Tuesday, April 18, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. The Predators won 3-2 to take a 3-0 lead in the series. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Chicago Blackhawks right wing Marian Hossa (81), of Slovakia, skates to the bench as Nashville Predators left wing Kevin Fiala (56), of Switzerland, celebrates with Mike Fisher (12) and James Neal, right, after Fiala scored the winning goal during overtime in Game 3 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series Tuesday, April 18, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. The Predators won 3-2 to take a 3-0 lead in the series. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)