One team had four days to prepare, while the other barely had 48 hours. And yet... the Florida Panthers -- after beating the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 7 on Sunday -- once again applied an aggressive approach in a 5-2 win against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals on Tuesday.
Practically every championship team has developed certain characteristics they've relied upon over time. That includes the Panthers. One of the ways they've advanced to three consecutive conference finals has been to gain a second-period lead.