The 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs are off and running.
We're 20 games deep and already fans have experienced both jubilation and heartbreak. Of those games, eight have gone to overtime and four have seen multi-goal comebacks.
The playoffs bring out the best of the best and create lasting memories for die-hard fans. So far, 2017 doesn't appear to be an exception.
Here are the top five storylines of the playoffs so far:
Cam Talbot
After a questionable first game that saw the Edmonton Oilers netminder concede a rather soft overtime winner to the San Jose Sharks, Cam Talbot has rebounded in a big way.
In fact, he's been perfect since, posting two shutouts, helping the Oilers claim a 2-1 series lead.
Talbot has now turned away 80 of the 83 shots he's faced in the first round and aided his club in reclaiming home-ice advantage.
Zack Kassian and company have also stepped up their game, as the Oilers have allowed just 39 shots over the past two games. Nevertheless, Talbot has been perfect and the young Oilers appear to be back in the driver's seat.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Washington Capitals learned pretty quickly that the Toronto Maple Leafs are not going down without a fight.
In both games, the Maple Leafs took early leads and forced comebacks from the Capitals. Washington was able to take Game 1 thanks to Tom Wilson's overtime winner, but was unsuccessful on Saturday after Kasperi Kapanen ended it in double OT.
Saturday night's win has now given the Maple Leafs home-ice advantage and has already proven those expecting a sweep by the Capitals wrong. The series is far from over, but after two games Mike Babcock's young club is quickly putting doubts in the minds of the Capitals.
Western giants struggling
Oh how the mighty have fallen.
OK, the Chicago Blackhawks and Minnesota Wild haven't officially been eliminated, but the top two clubs in the Western Conference are certainly not looking good.
The Blackhawks have been shutout in their first two games - both on home ice for that matter - while the Wild are now just one loss away from being swept by the St. Louis Blues.
It's surprising, considering the Blackhawks and Wild entered the postseason with the best and third-best odds, respectively, of winning the Stanley Cup.
Of course, anything could still happen, but both teams have their backs against the wall, which is not a spot most expected these clubs to be in.
Penguins' high octane offense
The Pittsburgh Penguins can score goals.
Rookie Jake Guentzel has certainly stolen the show with a hat trick in Game 3, giving him a total of four goals and five points in three games, but the fact is he isn't a lone wolf tallying points for the Penguins.
So far, only three players on the Penguins' roster have yet to find the scoresheet against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Evgeni Malkin leads the pack with six points, Sidney Crosby has matched Guentzel with five, and Phil Kessel has averaged a point per game with three.
The Penguins as a team are averaging four goals per game and just two against. That's a winning recipe right there.
Alexander Radulov
The Montreal Canadiens can thank both general manager Marc Bergevin and Alexander Radulov for their 2-1 series lead over the New York Rangers.
The Canadiens' offseason signee appears to be worth every penny, as the veteran forward scored the Game 2 overtime winner on Friday night to cap off a three-point evening and followed that up with another two points in Sunday's 3-1 win, including a ridiculous breakaway goal in the third period.
Radulov now has five points in three games, and after the threat of losing both games on home ice, the Canadiens can breathe a little easier. Radulov is just shy of a point per game in the playoffs, with 19 points in 21 career postseason games.
One must think he's now in line for a nice little raise when he signs his next contract.
(Photos courtesy: USA Today Sports)
Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.