* The 2026 Second Round between the Avalanche and Wild got off to an exciting start, as both clubs went back-and-forth en route to a combined 15 goals – the most in a playoff game in four years – before Colorado came out victorious.
* Alex Newhook scored a late go-ahead goal in Game 7 to lift the Canadiens past the Lightning and into the Second Round, where they’ll face off against the Sabres in the playoffs for the first time in more than 25 years.
* With the Second Round bracket now fully set, the games continue Monday as the Flyers look to even up their series against the Hurricanes while the Golden Knights welcome the Ducks in their series opener.
AVALANCHE CLAIM VICTORY IN HIGH-SCORING, BACK-AND-FORTH GAME 1
Game 1 of the Second Round between the Avalanche and Wild was a tug-of-war that saw both teams combine for five goals in a span of less than five minutes in the first period, Minnesota erase a two-goal deficit to take a 5-4 lead in a span of nearly 13 minutes in the second frame and Colorado respond a little over a minute later to pull even. The excitement continued well into the third period with an onslaught of achievements from star players in the final four minutes before the Avalanche came out victorious.
11:40 p.m. (16:01 of P3) – Hughes captures playoff scoring lead
Quinn Hughes (1-2—3) pulls the Wild within one goal and becomes the fifth defenseman in the past 25 years to record consecutive three-point playoff games, moving into the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs scoring lead in the process (3-8—11 in 7 GP). With his first assist of the game, Hughes set the Wild record for the most points by a defenseman in a postseason and with his goal he became the fastest player in franchise history to a double-digit playoff point total, eclipsing Marian Gaborik (9 GP).
11:42 p.m. (17:06 of P3) – Avalanche defensemen hit double digits
Devon Toews (1-3—4), who also factored on Nazem Kadri’s eventual game winner nearly six minutes into the third frame, collects an assist on Cale Makar’s (2-1—3) second goal of the period and becomes the fifth different Avalanche/Nordiques defenseman to record four points in a playoff game.
* Toews,Makar, Sam Malinski (1-1—2) and Nick Blankenburg (1-0—1) combined for 10 points, making the Avalanche the fifth team in NHL history with a double-digit total from defensemen in a playoff game, following the 1985 Oilers (12 in Game 1 of CF), 1983 Oilers (10 in Game 5 of DF), 1983 Rangers (10 in Game 3 of DSF) and 1976 Maple Leafs (10 in Game 6 of QF). Colorado also became the third team in NHL history with five goals from blueliners in a playoff contest, following the 1992 Kings (5 in Game 2 of DSF) and 1985 North Stars (5 in Game 4 of DF).
11:45 p.m. (17:52 of P3) – MacKinnon joins elite list in 100th playoff game
Nathan MacKinnon (1-2—3) scores the Avalanche’s ninth goal of the night – their most in a playoff game in franchise history – and boosts his career playoff totals to 58-74—132 (100 GP). He surpasses Mike Bossy (73-58—131) for the sixth-most points through 100 career playoff games in NHL history, behind only Wayne Gretzky (69-139—208), Mario Lemieux (75-93—168), Connor McDavid (45-109—154), Leon Draisaitl (53-95—148) and Jari Kurri (66-73—139).
* For more notes from Game 1, check out our latest edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates.
CANADIENS DEFEAT LIGHTNING, REACH SECOND ROUND FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2021
In a series where every contest was decided by a single goal, Alex Newhook scored the decisive tally with 8:53 remaining in regulation to lift the Canadiens to victory in Game 7 and send them to the Second Round for the first time since 2021, when they advanced all the way to the Stanley Cup Final.
* The Canadiens-Lightning series marked the third in Stanley Cup Playoffs history to have seven straight one-goal games, following the Rangers-Capitals (2015 R2) and Bruins-Capitals (2012 CQF). The score was either tied or within a one-goal margin for 98.7% of the series, which is the second-highest percentage in a seven-game matchup behind the Capitals-Bruins in the 2012 Conference Quarterfinals (99.4%).
* Newhook’s game winner marked the second-latest go-ahead goal by a Canadiens skater in a Game 7 behind only Maurice Richard (56:19 in 1952 SF vs. BOS). The Canadiens improved to 16-9 all-time in Game 7s and tied the Bruins (16-15) for the most Game 7 wins in NHL history.
* Jakub Dobes stopped 28 of 29 shots and became the fifth rookie goaltender in Canadiens history to win a Game 7, following Carey Price (2008 CQF), Patrick Roy (1986 DF), Ken Dryden (1971 SCF & 1971 QF) and Jacques Plante (1953 SF).
* Montreal and Buffalo will meet in the Second Round, marking their eighth head-to-head series and first since the 1998 Conference Semifinals, when the Sabres swept the Canadiens. Montreal holds the overall edge across the previous seven series (4-3).
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BRACKET FOR 2026 SECOND ROUND SET
It will be a new-look Second Round as only two teams that were there last year advanced and, for the second time in four postseasons, neither team that made the last Stanley Cup Final will be part of round two. The eight remaining clubs account for just two of the last 18 Stanley Cup wins as well as eight of the last 45 dating to 1980. The last team to secure their place was Montreal, which bested Tampa Bay in Game 7, marking the first time since 2019 that the Final will not include a Florida team. Click here for more information on the start times for each matchup.
#NHLSTATS RELEASES 2026 FIRST ROUND RECAP
The unpredictability that defines playoff hockey was on display during the 2026 First Round as 82% of playing time had teams tied or separated by one goal, 29% of games featured the drama of sudden death overtime (13 of 45 GP) and six series required at least six contests. It marked just the fourth time in Stanley Cup Playoffs history that each of the four youngest clubs won a series, following 2012 (LAK, NSH, NYR & PHI), 1981 (MNS, EDM, NYR & BUF) and 1979 (NYI, PHI, NYR & PIT). Click here for a full #NHLStats recap of the First Round.
QUICK CLICKS
* Mats Sundin hired as Maple Leafs executive adviser, John Chayka named GM
* Color of Hockey: Renee Ng raising game for Wilkes, Hong Kong women’s teams
* Stanley Cup visit creates priceless smiles for Blackstone Valley Co-op team
* Denver Barkey could start at center for Flyers in Game 2 against Hurricanes
* Alex Newhook’s highlight-reel midair, backhand, batted in goal wins series for Canadiens
SECOND ROUND CONTINUES WITH GAME 1 BETWEEN DUCKS, GOLDEN KNIGHTS
The Second Round continues Monday with doubleheaders on ESPN, Sportsnet and TVA Sports, starting with the Flyers looking to even their series against the Hurricanes before the Ducks and Golden Knights clash in the postseason for the first time. Eyes will be on Carolina forward Logan Stankoven, who enters Monday with a five-game goal streak – only four players in the past 10 years have posted a longer run in a playoff year: Brayden Point (9 GP in 2024), Valeri Nichushkin (7 GP in 2022), Zach Hyman (6 GP in 2021) and Martin Havlat (6 GP in 2006).
* The Golden Knights and Ducks are set for their first head-to-head playoff series – Vegas owns an all-time record of 10-3 in its first postseason round against a franchise, while Anaheim is 9-6. The Ducks went 3-0-0 in three games against the Golden Knights during the 2025-26 campaign and swept their season series for the first time in franchise history. Anaheim had two of its League-leading 26 comeback wins this season versus Vegas (Nov. 22 & Nov. 8, 2025).
* The Golden Knights have series wins versus the Sharks (2018 R2) as well as the Kings (2018 R1) and can become the fifth franchise with at least one against all three current California-based teams, following the Blackhawks, Oilers, Red Wings and Stars.
* Jack Eichel (1-8—9 in 6 GP) led Vegas in scoring in the First Round, while defenseman Jackson LaCombe (1-8—9 in 6 GP) did so for Anaheim. Eichel is a multi-assist outing from requiring the fewest games to 10 helpers in a playoff year by a Golden Knights player and would best Reilly Smith’s mark from 2018 (10 GP). Meanwhile, LaCombe can best Paul Kariya (8 GP in 1997) for the fastest to 10 career playoff points by any skater in Ducks history.
