Penguins fly out of the gate in 7-Eleven Power Rankings

Which is the greater story for the defending champs: The Flower re-blossoming in goal or Jake Guentzel blossoming as a playoff goal-scorer with an NHL-leading four in three games?

Jake Allen has been the NHL’s best goalie since Feb. 7, posting a .944 save percentage over 26 games, including a . 974 mark in three playoff wins over Minnesota.

Ryan Johansen earning four points (1-3-4) in two games against the mighty Blackhawks is what GM David Poile imagined when he sacrificed Seth Jones for the young centre.

Two victories over Calgary extends the Ducks’ NHL-record home winning streak against one team to 29. Add that to Anaheim’s season-ending 14-game point streak (11-0-3). 

Zack Kassian didn't have a game winning goal all season, or last season, or ever in the post-season. He has both of Edmonton's game-winners in the playoffs this year. 

Tomas Plekanec may have saved the Habs’ season, scoring with 18 seconds left in Game 2, enabling Montreal to get a home split and set the stage for The Radulov Show in NYC.

The playoff-troubled Capitals have never swept a team in a best-of-seven series and it won't be happening again after a surprisingly difficult time just gaining a split at home.

Mike Babcock’s Leafs have led more than 53 minutes and the Capitals less than four in a series that has Washington’s Barry Trotz saying it could  go seven.

The Bruins survived a shotless second period to win Game 1 but couldn’t withstand two goals in 2:20 of the third period in Game 2 – losing in overtime. 

The Rangers are now on a six-game playoff losing streak at home, beginning with three straight losses to Tampa Bay in 2015 that cost them a berth in the Stanley Cup final.

It has been boom or bust for last year’s Stanley Cup finalist over the past four playoff seasons: winning three series in 2016 and failing to win a single series in the other three years.

Brian Elliott has lost his last five starts – three in the regular season - and four of them have been against Anaheim. Facing 11 power plays in two games is no formula for success. 

The stunned Blackhawks were shut out in the first two games of a series for only the second time in team history. The other time was in 1935 against the Montreal Maroons.

Minnesota went all in at the trade deadline but have been all out in the playoffs:  With two goals and an assist, Zach Parise has generated all three Wild playoff goals. 

The Blue Jackets have lost nine of their last 10 combined regular season and playoff games. Vezina Trophy-favourite Sergei Bobrovsky has an. 897 save percentage in the playoffs.