NHL Hockey 3 Days

Last updated: April 20, 2026, 11:30 PM ET

Stanley Cup Playoffs: First Round Upsets & Dominant Openers

The early rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs delivered immediate drama, most notably in the Eastern Conference where the Philadelphia Flyers secured a commanding 2-0 series lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins following a decisive 3-0 shutout victory. Young forward Porter Martone, already on a hot streak, scored his second straight goal in the series, backing a 27-save performance from goaltender Dan Vladar. This early dominance contrasts sharply with the struggles in the West, where the Dallas Stars fell victim to a familiar pattern, losing Game 1 at home by a decisive 6-1 margin to the Minnesota Wild, marking the ninth time in the last 11 playoff openers that Jake Oettinger and Dallas faltered. Meanwhile, the Montreal Canadiens engineered a significant upset, edging the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3 in overtime, fueled by a historic performance where 22-year-old Juraj Slafkovsky, the 2022 No. 1 overall pick, notched his first career playoff hat trick, with the game-winner coming on the power play just 1:22 into the extra frame.

In other opening-night action, the Colorado Avalanche, the top seed in their bracket, secured a narrow Game 1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings, aided by a sentimental milestone goal from Logan O'Connor, who found the back of the net for the first time in almost a full calendar year. The Vegas Golden Knights demonstrated their mid-season resurgence under new leadership, staging a three-goal third-period rally to defeat the Mammoth 4-2; this victory extended their regulation unbeaten streak to an impressive run since John Tortorella assumed coaching duties last month. Conversely, Tampa Bay’s coach Jon Cooper expressed frustration following the Game 1 loss, directly attributing the overtime defeat to what he termed "penalty stupidity" committed by his squad throughout the contest.

Western Conference Returns & Offseason Speculation

The Edmonton Oilers welcomed back key personnel as star center Leon Draisaitl made his anticipated return for Monday’s Game 1 matchup against the Anaheim Ducks, having missed action since March 15 due to a lower-body injury. While the Oilers opened their series, the focus in Washington remains centered on the future of captain Alex Ovechkin, with Capitals management confirming they are fully prepared regardless of the 40-year-old’s decision regarding retirement after his 21st NHL season. to future seasons, San Jose Sharks centerpiece Macklin Celebrini indicated an openness to securing a long-term commitment, stating he is receptive to discussing an extension this summer, despite having one year remaining on his current $2.925 million entry-level contract. The league-wide anticipation for the postseason is palpable, with analysts already attempting to map out the entire bracket and debate which of the league’s elite players, such as those ranked in the top 50 performers, will ultimately hoist the Stanley Cup.

League Traditions and Team Focus

Beyond the immediate results, the league’s unique postseason rituals continue to draw comparisons, with some observers noting how WWE traditions can clarify the structure and intensity of the Stanley Cup playoffs for new fans as the first round coincides with Wrestlemania weekend. For teams that managed to secure a victory, the immediate focus shifts to maintaining momentum; for instance, the Buffalo Sabres celebrated their special opening-night win but quickly emphasized the necessity to "turn the page" ahead of Game 2 to prevent the opponent from gaining ground in the series.