* The Avalanche became the second team to advance to the Second Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs and did so after Nathan MacKinnon collected three points in a clinching game for the fourth time and Cale Makar netted another winning goal for the franchise.
* Brandon Hagel, Jake Guentzel and Nikita Kucherov continue to lead the charge for the Lightning, who have evened their First Round series with the Canadiens, and have done so without the services of captain Victor Hedman.
* The Ducks and Sabres entered the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs after ending lengthy postseason absences but now each club sits within one win of advancing to the Second Round following Game 4 victories.
* Comeback wins have defined the First Round series between the Lightning and Canadiens as well as the Ducks and Oilers. They are the 11th and 12th set of teams since 1993 to start a best-of-seven series with four or more consecutive come-from-behind victories.
Mainstays MAKAR, MacKINNON and LANDESKOG HELP AVALANCHE SWEEP KINGS
Cale Makar collected the clincher while Nathan MacKinnon (2-1—3) and Gabriel Landeskog (0-2—2) logged multiple points as the Avalanche swept a best-of-seven series for the sixth time in franchise history (also 2022 CF, 2022 R1, 2021 R1, 2001 CQF & 1996 SCF). Colorado became the second team to advance to the Second Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs after Carolina did so Saturday.
* Makar became the fifth defenseman in Avalanche/Nordiques history with a series-clinching goal, following Samuel Girard (Game 5 of 2020 R1), Uwe Krupp (Game 4 of 1996 SCF), Sandis Ozolinsh (Game 6 of 1996 CSF) and Dave Pichette (Game 7 of 1982 DF). Makar scored his sixth career game winner in the playoffs and extended his franchise record for most by a blueliner.
* MacKinnon scored his 11th and 12th career goals in potential series-clinching games to surpass Peter Forsberg (10) for second place on the franchise’s all-time list, which is topped by Joe Sakic (17). MacKinnon also reached 25 career points in those contests to pass Forsberg (24) for the second most among Avalanche/Nordiques players behind Sakic (30).
* The Avalanche will face the Stars or Wild in the Second Round. Colorado dueled Dallas in each of the last two postseasons including during the 2025 First Round when Mikko Rantanen had a Game 7 hat trick in a multi-goal, third-period comeback win against his former team; the Avalanche last faced the Wild during the 2014 First Round when an 18-year-old MacKinnon had 10 points in seven contests.
Kopitar bids farewell to Kings fans after final game of 20-season career
Several “Thank you, Kopi!” chants rained down from the Crypto.com Arena stands as Anze Kopitar received a standing ovation from fans, players and officials following the final game of his decorated career. Kopitar retired as the franchise’s all-time scoring leader and helped the Kings capture their first two Stanley Cups while also winning six individual NHL Awards over his 20 seasons in Los Angeles.
* Kopitar was congratulated by several Avalanche players in the post-game handshake line including longtime opponent Brent Burns, who skated across from the Kings captain 101 times between the regular season and playoffs. Kopitar then spoke to media while being flanked by his children Neza and Jakob, who he plans to spend more time with as a full-time dad.
HAGEL CONTINUES TO STRIKE FOR LIGHTNING AS TAMPA RALLIES TO GAME 4 WIN
The Lightning and Canadiens looked poised for a fourth straight overtime to start their First Round series but Brandon Hagel (2-0—2) scored his NHL-leading sixth goal of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs with less than five minutes remaining in regulation to help Tampa Bay complete a multi-goal comeback and deadlock its opening-round matchup 2-2.
* Hagel (6-1—7 in 4 GP), the second player in franchise history to score a game-tying and go-ahead goal in the third period of a playoff game (Brayden Point: Game 1 of 2021 R1), has already matched the Lightning record for goals in a playoff series (4x; last: Point in 2021 SCSF) after finding the back of the net in each of the first four games against the Canadiens. He also became the first Tampa Bay skater with six goals through his first four games of a postseason and matched the highest total by any player in the last 30 years.
* Jake Guentzel (1-1—2) and Nikita Kucherov (0-2—2) were also crucial for a Lightning team who have been without the services of captain Victor Hedman – the second-highest postseason scorer in franchise history – to start the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Guentzel has collected 1-6—7 to start the postseason and owns 42-38—80 in 78 career playoff games – he is one of five American players in Stanley Cup Playoffs history to average at least 1.00 points per game (min. 12 GP).
* Kucherov, with primary assists on both of Hagel’s game-tying and go-ahead goals, became the 15th player in NHL history to record 50 multi-point games in the postseason and the fourth born outside North America, following Jari Kurri (60), Evgeni Malkin (54) and Jaromir Jagr (50). Overall, his 32nd career multi-assist game in the Stanley Cup Playoffs tied Doug Gilmour, Sidney Crosby and Ray Bourque for the fourth most in NHL history.
DUCKS AND SABRES ARE ON THE VERGE OF SECOND ROUND
The Ducks and Sabres qualified for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs after ending seven- and 14-year postseason droughts, respectively, but now each club is on the verge of the Second Round following Game 4 victories and 3-1 leads in their respective series.
* Anaheim erased a multi-goal deficit through the first two periods and Jeffrey Viel netted another game-tying tally in the final seven minutes of regulation before Ryan Poehling lifted the Ducks to victory 2:29 into overtime. Anaheim took a 3-1 series lead thanks in part to the NHL’s third-highest overtime winning percentage in Stanley Cup Playoffs history and a third straight comeback win – the second-longest streak in franchise history behind a four-game stretch in 2015 (Games 1-4 of R1).
* Twenty-seven-year-old Poehling, traded to Anaheim as part of the deal that sent Trevor Zegras to Philadelphia, and the undrafted 29-year-old Viel are each skating in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time. In fact, the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs are Poehling’s first taste of postseason action since the 2015-16 campaign with Lakeville North High (1-7—8 in 3 GP). Of note: Poehling participated in various tournaments, including the NCHC and a silver-medal winning performance at the 2019 World Junior Championships.
* Jackson LaCombe (0-2—2) collected his second assist on Viel’s game-tying tally and boosted his playoff totals to 1-7—8 (4 GP). He set the Ducks record for assists and points by a defenseman in a playoff series, and also matched the longest streak of multi-point games in franchise postseason history (3 GP).
* Joel Quenneville earned his 124th career playoff win in the contest and overtook Al Arbour (123) for the second most by a head coach in Stanley Cup Playoffs history.
* The Sabres led 4-0 through the first period – one shy of the most goals in a playoff period in franchise history – and never relinquished their grip on Game 4 en route to winning back-to-back games in Boston. Four Buffalo skaters registered multiple points in the victory including Bowen Byram (1-1—2), who became the third defenseman in franchise history with a three-game goal streak in the playoffs, and Alex Tuch (1-1—2), whose six points through four games are the most by a Buffalo skater to start a playoff year since Daniel Briere in 2006 (3-3—6 in 4 GP).
* The Sabres became the first team to score nine consecutive road goals within a single playoff series since the Golden Knights from Game 3-4 of the 2021 First Round. Tuch tallied one of Vegas’ goals during its streak against Minnesota.
QUICK CLICKS
* #NHLStats: Live Updates for April 26, 2026
* Arturs Silovs likely for another chance to save Penguins in Game 5
* Rick Tocchet has Flyers on cusp of 2nd round after leaving impact on Penguins
* Anze Kopitar’s legendary career ends on ‘bittersweet’ note with Kings
* Celebrities, sports stars cheer on teams during Stanley Cup playoffs
MAMMOTH LOOK TO KEEP HOME VIBES GOING
A new week starts with two games in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Monday including Sidney Crosby and the Penguins, back on home ice, aiming to stave off elimination once again in Game 5 and the Mammoth looking to ride the momentum of the first playoff home game (and home win) in franchise history as they eye a 3-1 lead in their series with the Golden Knights.
* The Mammoth will look to become the 10th team in the expansion era to win each of the first two playoff home games in franchise history and just the third to do so among teams to debut in the 2000s or later joining the Golden Knights (3 GP in 2018) and Predators (2 GP in 2004).
* Logan Cooley (2-1—3) is the only player on the Utah roster who has recorded a point in each of the first three games of the series. The Pittsburgh native, with three games of playoff experience, has a connection with veteran forward Sidney Crosby, who is also in action Monday looking to build off a multi-point performance in Game 4 to once again keep the Penguins season alive against the Flyers. Cooley got an introduction to hockey at five years of age playing in Crosby’s Little Penguins program, where he spent time on the ice with Crosby among the first crop of kids to take part in the program.-27022958.png)
