Tampa Bay Lightning (0-0) at Carolina Hurricanes (0-0)
It may have taken a bit longer for the Carolina Hurricanes to dispatch the Nashville Predators than I think anyone would have liked, and the multiple overtime games added both to the drama and the terror of the whole situation. But the deed is done and the Hurricanes have moved on to a date with the defending Stanley Cup champions.
This matchup felt inevitable coming out of the temporarily reimagined Central Division, with Nashville sneaking into the playoffs by virtue of every other team failing to thrive, and with the Panthers turning in a remarkable regular season performance only to run up against the Tampa-shaped brick wall in the playoffs.