NHL Hockey 24 Hours

Last updated: April 20, 2026, 2:30 PM ET

Stanley Cup First Round Shocks & Overtime Thrillers

The opening round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs delivered immediate drama, headlined by major upsets and dramatic overtime finishes across the league. In the Eastern Conference, the Montreal Canadiens secured a stunning 4-3 overtime victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning, fueled by a spectacular performance from 22-year-old Juraj Slafkovsky, the 2022 No. 1 overall pick, who netted his third power-play goal 1:22 into the extra frame. Lightning coach Jon Cooper expressed intense frustration post-game, attributing the Game 1 loss largely to unnecessary penalty trouble committed by his squad. Meanwhile, the Colorado Avalanche narrowly avoided an upset, as Logan O'Connor broke a nearly year-long scoring drought with a key goal in their tight Game 1 win over the Los Angeles Kings.

Western Conference Momentum & Fan Frenzy

Western Conference action saw the Vegas Golden Knights continue their strong form under new leadership, rallying with three third-period goals Sunday night to defeat the Mammoth 4-2 in their opener, maintaining their regulation unbeaten streak since John Tortorella assumed the coaching role last month. In Buffalo, the Sabres broke a 15-year playoff victory drought in dramatic fashion, prompting memorable fan reactions that included downed rink fences and damaged promotional mannequins surrounding the KeyBank Center. These opening contests set the stage for the next phase of the postseason, where analysts are focused on the top 50 players expected to wield the most influence across the 16 competing franchises.