NHL Hockey 3 Days

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

Stanley Cup Playoff Openers Dominate Action

The opening slate of Stanley Cup first-round matchups on Sunday saw several dramatic finishes and established early series narratives across the league 6. In the Eastern Conference, the underdog Buffalo Sabres achieved a historic comeback against the Bruins, overcoming a two-goal deficit in the final eight minutes to secure a 4-3 victory, marking their first playoff win in 15 years 2. Similarly, the Philadelphia Flyers edged the rival Penguins 3-2, propelled by a late game-winner from 19-year-old rookie Porter Martone with just 2:37 remaining in regulation 7. The betting public, which had favored longshots like Buffalo, saw some early vindication, though the Colorado Avalanche remain Cup favorites alongside the Hurricanes and Lightning 13.

Upsets were also the theme in the matchup featuring the Tampa Bay Lightning, who fell 4-3 in overtime to the Montreal Canadiens 3. Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky, the 2022 No. 1 overall pick, completed a three-goal performance with his third power-play goal 1:22 into the extra frame, handing the favored Lightning a Game 1 loss 5. Lightning coach Jon Cooper later cited his team's costly penalties as the primary factor in the defeat 3. Elsewhere, the top-seeded Avalanche managed to secure a Game 1 victory over the Kings, aided by Logan O'Connor, who scored his first goal in nearly a year to cap a significant personal comeback 4.

Meanwhile, the Vegas Golden Knights continued their impressive run under new leadership, as they rallied with three third-period goals on Sunday to defeat the Utah Mammoth 4-2, extending their regulation unbeaten streak since John Tortorella assumed coaching duties last month 1. In stark contrast, the Dallas Stars faltered badly at the American Airlines Center, falling 6-1 to the Wild, continuing an unwelcome trend where Dallas has dropped Game 1 in nine of their last 11 playoff series 8. These results provide essential early intelligence for analysts attempting to map out the entire postseason bracket, with predictions for the 2026 final already circulating 10, 17.

Offseason Management & Player Updates

The offseason maneuvering began early in Vancouver, where the Canucks dismissed general manager Patrik Allvin immediately following their last-place finish in the league standings 15. On the player side, Rangers center Vincent Trocheck revealed that his month-long absence earlier in the season stemmed from a bacterial infection in a lung that necessitated surgery 12. In player contract news, Sharks star Macklin Celebrini, who has one year left on his $2.925 million entry-level contract, expressed openness to signing an extension this summer after setting a franchise record for rookie scoring 9. Separately, an annual NHLPA poll released Friday indicated that his peers view Sidney Crosby as the player most likely to transition into a head coaching role post-retirement 11.

Betting & Futures Outlook

As the postseason commences, betting guides are offering detailed analysis, including Conn Smythe Trophy predictions for every first-round contender 14. While the betting consensus places the Avalanche, Hurricanes, and Lightning at the top of the list to win the championship, there is considerable interest in teams like the Sabres who represent a high-reward longshot play for bettors 13. Fans seeking context on the 16 playoff participants are being directed to guides summarizing the top teams and essential statistics from the preceding six months of play 16.