First-Round Playoff Recap: Chaos Unleashed

The first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs delivers the usual mix of overtime thrillers and shocking upsets that remind us why this league owns spring. Veterans in the scouting rooms whisper about coaching tweaks and goaltending quirks that flipped series on their heads, while GMs eye the second round with a mix of dread and opportunity. Casual fans might miss the subtle lineup changes that decided Game 7s, but those details separate contenders from pretenders as the bracket tightens.