NHL playoffs: 4 things to know for tonight

Perhaps the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators will get back to playing just hockey after plenty of talk the past 24 hours, while a reportedly healthy Sean Monahan and impressive rookie Sam Bennett will try to help Calgary to a 2-0 series lead in Vancouver.

Here's what you need to know for tonight's NHL playoff games:

Don't believe the hype

Expecting fireworks on the ice at Montreal's Bell Centre when the Canadiens and Senatorsresume their Eastern Conference quarter-final (CBC, CBCSports.ca, 7 p.m. ET)? More often than not, there isn't a carryover when a game is overhyped. Here's a recap of events since the start of Game 1, won 4-3 by Montreal:

- Canadiens defenceman P.K. Subban slashes Mark Stone's right wrist midway through second period. Stone leaves the game briefly, resulting in a five-minute major and game misconduct for Subban, who earned two assists before his departure.

- After the game, Senators coach Dave Cameron suggests his players may try to get retribution by slashing a Montreal player.

- On Thursday, the Senators reveal Stone has a fractured wrist and is "very questionable" to return to the series, according to GM Bryan Murray. His status is upgraded Friday morning to a game-time decision.

- Subban tells reporters: "I've been slashed a lot harder than that," adding he would not reach out to Stone, sparking a war of words between the teams.

- Murray also says Subban threatened Stone earlier in the game and that his player felt targeted.

- Ottawa centre Kyle Turris tells reporters: "It's going to be a war, this series."

Milan Michalek moved to Stone's spot on the first line at practice Friday while Chris Neil, who skated on the fourth unit, would potentially take Stone's spot if he can't play. Canadiens left-winger Max Pacioretty (upper-body injury) will be a game-time decision while fellow forward P.A. Parenteau is out.

Ottawa will need goalie Andrew Hammond to get back on his game after allowing more goals in Game 1 (four) than he had in any game since March 26.

Kid not rattled

Vancouver expected to see a lot of Calgary centre Sean Monahan in the first round — the Flames, by the way, insist he does not have a shoulder injury — but Sam Bennett? The 18-year-old rookie suited up for one regular-season game with Calgary following a 15-game stint with Kingston in the Ontario Hockey League after a long recovery from October shoulder surgery. But there he was Wednesday, earning an assist and creating traffic in front of the Vancouver net on Kris Russell's winning goal in Game 1. Believed to be the first 18-year-old to play in the post-season for Calgary since Jarome Iginla in 1996, Bennett could be a factor in the series.

Back to Monahan, who told reporters Thursday he is healthy for Game 2 (CBC, CBCSports.ca, 10 p.m. ET). For the first time since Nov. 15, the Flames won with their top line of Jiri Hudler, Johnny Gaudreau and Monahan held off the scoresheet. For the Canucks, defenceman Kevin Bieksa missed Thursday's practice with an undisclosed injury but coach Willie Desjardins said he is probable for Friday's game. Eddie Lack made 28 saves in Game 1 but it's not known if he or veteran Ryan Miller will be in goal.

Do Caps have another gear?

Washington hopes to even its first-round series against the visitingNew York Islanders after seven giveaways in the first period and poor execution led to a 4-1 Game 1 loss. The good news? Visiting teams that prevail in Game 1 have won only 38.4 per cent of Game 2s, according to WhoWins.com. The Capitals, who are 9-6 all-time in Game 2, have the experience (seven players with at least 50 post-season games) and talent (NHL goal-scoring champion Alex Ovechkin) to get back on track.

Ovechkin, who had 53 goals in the regular season, mustered eight shots but no points in Game 1.

Power back on

Patrick Kane probably won't have the same stamina as his teammates early in these playoffs, but it will matter little if he continues to be a huge factor on the power play. Kane returned from a broken collarbone on Wednesday that cost the Chicago forward 21 games and had primary assists on power-play goals by Patrick Sharp and Jonathan Toews in a 4-3 double-overtime win in Nashville. The Blackhawks' power play went 2-for-6 after converting seven of 52 chances in Kane's absence.

Corey Crawford gets the start in goal for Game 2 after surrendering three goals on 12 shots in the first period on Wednesday before Scott Darling relieved him and stopped all 42 shots he faced.

Perhaps it was Nashville's youth showing when Chicago overcame a 3-0 first-period deficit to tie Game 1 after 40 minutes. The entire Predators roster has played 581 post-season games and the player with the most playoff experience, forward Mike Fisher, left the game early in the second period with a lower-body injury and is questionable for Friday's contest.