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

Stanley Cup Playoff First Round Shocks

The opening slate of Stanley Cup first-round matchups featured several dramatic upsets as eight new teams kicked off their postseason bids. In the Western Conference, the Colorado Avalanche secured a narrow Game 1 victory over the Kings, aided by Logan O’Connor’s first goal in nearly a year, which capped a long personal comeback for the forward. Conversely, the Dallas Stars face a familiar 1-0 deficit after falling 6-1 to the Wild, marking their ninth failure to win Game 1 in their last 11 playoff series when playing at the American Airlines Center.

Eastern Conference Upsets & Rookie Heroics

The Eastern Conference saw significant surprises, particularly as the Montreal Canadiens, powered by 22-year-old Juraj Slafkovsky, stunned the Tampa Bay Lightning. Slafkovsky, the 2022 No. 1 overall pick, completed his first playoff hat trick with the game-tying goal arriving 1:22 into overtime, leading Montreal to a 4-3 win. Furthermore, the Philadelphia Flyers stole the opener against their rivals, the Penguins, with 19-year-old rookie Porter Martone netting the decisive goal with just 2:37 remaining on the clock in a tight 3-2 affair.