NHL Hockey 24 Hours

Last updated: April 19, 2026, 11:30 AM ET

Stanley Cup Playoffs Opening Slate

The Stanley Cup playoffs began in earnest Sunday with the opening matchups across the league, following Saturday's initial slate of contests. In a surprising Eastern Conference result, the Philadelphia Flyers edged the rival Penguins 3-2 after 19-year-old rookie Porter Martone scored the game-winning goal with just 2:37 remaining in regulation. Conversely, the Dallas Stars suffered a comprehensive 6-1 defeat to the Wild at the American Airlines Center, marking the ninth time in their last 11 playoff runs that the Stars have dropped Game 1 on home ice, raising immediate questions about the performance of goaltender Jake Oettinger.

Offseason Contract News

While the current postseason heats up, organizational planning continues, evidenced by news out of San Jose where Macklin Celebrini indicated openness to an extension this summer. Celebrini, who is currently playing on a three-year, $2.925 million entry-level contract, broke a franchise scoring record this past season, making any potential new deal a priority for the Sharks front office before his current contract expires next year.