NHL Hockey 3 Days

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

Stanley Cup Playoff Opening Weekend Shocks & Surprises

The opening weekend of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs delivered immediate fireworks, featuring several major upsets and emotional victories across the Eastern and Western Conferences. In Montreal, 22-year-old forward Juraj Slafkovsky, the 2022 No. 1 overall pick, ignited an upset by netting his third power-play goal 1:22 into overtime, propelling the Canadiens past the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3 in Game 1, a result Coach Jon Cooper attributed directly to his team's penalty stupidity. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Flyers stole the opener against the Penguins when 19-year-old rookie Porter Martone scored the eventual game-winner with 2:37 remaining, securing a tight 3-2 victory in their Eastern Conference quarterfinal clash.

In the West, the Vegas Golden Knights maintained their momentum under new coach John Tortorella, rallying from an early deficit with three third-period goals to defeat the Mammoth 4-2 in their opener, extending their regulation unbeaten streak since Tortorella’s arrival last month. Conversely, the Dallas Stars faced a familiar deficit, falling 6-1 to the Wild; this marked the ninth time in their last 11 playoff series that the Stars dropped Game 1 on home ice at the American Airlines Center. The Colorado Avalanche, however, secured a victory as Logan O'Connor scored his first goal in nearly a year to help the top-seeded Avs edge the Kings in their Sunday matchup.

Fan Celebrations & Player Milestones

The emotional intensity of the postseason was perhaps best exemplified in Buffalo, where the Sabres secured a historic victory in Game 1, winning their first playoff contest in 15 years after surging past their opponent in the third period, leading to memorable scenes involving downed rink fences and spirited fan reactions at KeyBank Center. Elsewhere, the ongoing playoff atmosphere provides context for understanding sports rituals, as analysts are drawing parallels between the traditions of Wrestlemania and the intense, high-stakes nature of the NHL postseason matchups. ESPN’s prognosticators have released their bracket predictions, offering insight into which of the 16 teams is expected to contend for the ultimate prize, while the list of the Top 50 impact players for the current postseason has also been published.

Offseason Rumblings & Player Intel

Away from the immediate playoff action, news surfaced regarding Sharks star Macklin Celebrini, who has indicated he is open to an extension this summer, despite having one year remaining on his current $2.925 million entry-level deal, following a season where he broke a franchise scoring record. In player transparency, New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck revealed that his month-long absence earlier in the season was due to a bacterial infection in one of his lungs that ultimately required surgical intervention. Furthermore, peer evaluations released by the NHLPA show that Sidney Crosby is still viewed by his contemporaries as the player most likely to transition into a head coaching role once his playing career concludes.