Sunday opens with four first‑round battles as the postseason field swells to sixteen. The Presidents’ Trophy‑winning Colorado Avalanche this spring host the Los Angeles Kings, while the Montreal Canadiens travel to face the Tampa Bay Lightning. Boston meets Buffalo in the East, and the Utah Mammoth challenge the Vegas Golden Knights for the coveted Cup. Each series pits a recent champion against a newcomer eager to prove its worth.

Saturday delivered a quiet night in the West, with Carolina blanking Ottawa 2‑0 as Frederik Andersen recorded a shutout. Minnesota surged past Dallas 6‑1, exploiting early power‑play chances and leaving Jesper Wallstedt with a single save. Philadelphia edged Pittsburgh 3‑2 in a tense Battle of Pennsylvania, courtesy of rookie Porter Martone’s late goal, in the early stages of the series.

Scoring leaders emerge early: Tampa’s Nikita Kucherov tops the charts with 130 points, while Vegas relies on Jack Eichel’s 90‑point season. Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon continues to drive the Avalanche’s offense, and Buffalo’s Tage Thompson provides the Mammoth’s spark, as the conference battles intensify.