NHL Playoffs 2017: 1st Round Sets Record with 18 Overtime Games

The Washington Capitals advanced past the Toronto Maple Leafs with a 2-1 overtime victory Sunday at Air Canada Centre and helped the NHL set some history in the process.

According to NHL Public Relations, 18 of the 42 first-round Stanley Cup Playoff games reached overtime this year, which is a league record.

Washington's thrilling 4-2 series win over Toronto was the catalyst behind the record, as five of the teams' six contests went into overtime. The Maple Leafs' Game 2 win went into double overtime.

Matchup	Result
Montreal Canadiens vs. New York Rangers, Game 2	4-3, MTL
Montreal Canadiens vs. New York Rangers, Game 5	3-2, NYR
Ottawa Senators vs. Boston Bruins, Game 2	4-3, OTT
Ottawa Senators vs. Boston Bruins, Game 3	4-3, OTT
Ottawa Senators vs. Boston Bruins, Game 5	3-2, BOS (2 OT)
Ottawa Senators vs. Boston Bruins, Game 6	3-2, OTT
Washington Capitals vs. Toronto Maple Leafs, Game 1	3-2, WSH
Washington Capitals vs. Toronto Maple Leafs, Game 2	4-3, TOR (2 OT)
Washington Capitals vs. Toronto Maple Leafs, Game 3	4-3, TOR
Washington Capitals vs. Toronto Maple Leafs, Game 5	2-1, WSH
Washington Capitals vs. Toronto Maple Leafs, Game 6	2-1, WSH
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Columbus Blue Jackets, Game 3	5-4, PIT
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Nashville Predators, Game 3	3-2, NSH
Minnesota Wild vs. St. Louis Blues, Game 1	2-1, STL
Minnesota Wild vs. St. Louis Blues, Game 5	4-3, STL
Anaheim Ducks vs. Calgary Flames, Game 3	5-4, ANA
Edmonton Oilers vs. San Jose Sharks, Game 1	3-2, SJS
Edmonton Oilers vs. San Jose Sharks, Game 5	4-3, EDM

Just a cursory look at this season's standings indicates how close the league was, which has played out with so many overtime games in the postseason.

A mere eight points separated the first-place Montreal Canadiens from the fourth-place Maple Leafs in the Atlantic Division, while four teams scored more than 100 points in the Metropolitan Division. Three points differentiated the first-place Chicago Blackhawks from the second-place Minnesota Wild in the Central Division, and two points separated the first-place Anaheim Ducks from the Edmonton Oilers in the Pacific Division.

"To me, this is much the same," Nashville Predators general manager David Poile said of the overtime pace in the playoffs, per Kevin Allen and Peter Barzilai of USA Today. "The parity of the regular season has just carried over into the playoffs."

That parity promises a thrilling remainder of the playoffs if the first round is any indication.

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