NHL Hockey 24 Hours

Last updated: April 21, 2026, 5:30 PM ET

Stanley Cup Playoff Action

The Edmonton Oilers secured a tight 4-3 victory in Game 1 of their first-round series against the Anaheim Ducks, propelled by Kasperi Kapanen’s go-ahead goal with just 1:54 remaining in the third period; the Oilers’ offense was bolstered by the return of Leon Draisaitl, who contributed two points to the winning effort. Elsewhere, the Dallas Stars corrected early playoff struggles, tying their series against the Wild at 1-1 following a 4-2 win where they successfully mitigated the very issues that hampered them in their previous outing. The Carolina Hurricanes needed double overtime to prevail in their matchup, with Jordan Martinook finally finding the net at 13:53 of the second extra session after a potential earlier game-winner was overturned and Martinook himself missed a penalty shot in the first overtime period.

Eastern Conference Upsets & Veteran Decisions

In Philadelphia, the Flyers extended their series lead to 2-0, highlighted by 19-year-old Porter Martone scoring his second goal in as many playoff games, making him the youngest player in franchise history to achieve that specific two-game goal-scoring feat. Meanwhile, the Washington Capitals front office confirmed they are prepared for the retirement decision facing captain Alex Ovechkin, whose 40-year-old presence looms large over the team's immediate future as he weighs whether to pursue a 22nd NHL season.