Thursday night, the Colorado Avalanche — the top team in the regular season — will try to avoid a similar fate as the Bruins.
Colorado is one of the fastest and most skilled teams in the league.
Meanwhile, the Golden Knights are looking to capitalize off the home crowd yet again and clinch a spot in the final four for the third time in four years.
“It’s been a while since we were the underdog, but we’re back at it in this series,” Jonathan Marchessault said.
It’s in its last year of existence before the team moves to the new UBS Arena at Belmont Park, and the Islanders are sending the old barn out with a bang.
The Isles get a rematch with the Lightning in the semifinal round, where once again, they’ll likely be underdogs.
“Opportunities when you can win and have a really good team, they don’t come around that often,” Brad Marchand said.
“I think two additions that have really went a long way for us in the room, on the ice.
Fox and Makar are both on their entry-level contracts, and just two years removed from playing college hockey, where they were also both Hobey Baker finalists.