NHL Hockey 8 Hours

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

NHL Playoff Upsets & Star Returns

The Western Conference saw immediate drama as Leon Draisaitl returned from injury to post two points, fueling the Edmonton Oilers' narrow 4-3 victory over the Anaheim Ducks in their opening game, sealed by a late third-period goal from Kasperi Kapanen. Elsewhere, the Dallas Stars successfully corrected their early playoff mistakes, leveraging lessons learned from Game 1 miscues to secure a 4-2 series-tying win against the Minnesota Wild.

Eastern Conference Tense Finishes

The intensity ramped up in the East, where the Carolina Hurricanes needed double overtime to triumph after a chaotic sequence involving a disallowed goal and a missed penalty shot by Jordan Martinook, who ultimately found the back of the net past Linus Ullmark at 13:53 of the second extra period. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Flyers celebrated another milestone performance from 19-year-old Porter Martone, who registered his second goal in as many playoff contests, establishing him as the first teenager in franchise history to achieve that specific feat.