#NHLPeachy @NHL First Round Recap: 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs
The unpredictability that defines playoff hockey was on display in the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs 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 games including a sixth straight year with a First Round Game 7. 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.
TRENDS OF THE 2026 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS
For the third time in five years, at least six of eight series in the First Round required six-plus games, including three that were tied 2-2 and one that went to Game 7.
* 89% of games were close games (40 of 45 GP), tied with 2024 for the highest rate for an opening round in Stanley Cup Playoffs history (“close games” are 1-goal margin of victory or 2+ with at least 1 empty-net goal).
* 82% of all playing time the score has been tied or separated by one goal, the highest rate at this stage in 74 years (tied).
* 29% of games have required overtime (13 of 45 GP) and for the fifth time in Stanley Cup Playoffs history, all eight series in the opening round had at least one overtime game (also 2023 R1, 2017 R1, 2013 CQF & 2001 CQF).
* There were 20 tying or go-ahead goals in the final 10 minutes of regulation, tied with 1983 (20) for the second most ever at that stage of a postseason (45 GP) behind 1989 (22).
NEW FACES, NEW PLACES DEFINED 2026 FIRST ROUND
Youth is served with the four youngest playoff rosters making it through to the Second Round (based on average age of each club’s 20-player roster for their playoff opener). It is 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).
* In total, 80 players made their Stanley Cup Playoffs debut in the 2026 First Round – among the top 10 for most playoff debuts in any round in NHL history and the most in a 16-team postseason since 2018, when 80 players also debuted in the First Round (this skips the 2020 SCQ when 82 players debuted).
* Regardless of playoff experience, 45 players tallied their first career Stanley Cup Playoffs goal in the 2026 First Round – the most “first playoff goals” in a single round since 2014 (61 in R1) and tied for seventh most in any round in NHL history.
* Six teams that reached the 2026 Second Round were not there last year (ANA, BUF, COL, MIN, PHI & MTL). It’s the first time since 2019 that the Second Round will feature at least six clubs that weren’t there the year prior.
* Furthermore, four clubs advanced to end a wait of at least five seasons without a series win – the most ever in a single postseason: Buffalo (18 seasons; 2007), Minnesota (10 seasons; 2015), Anaheim (8 seasons; 2017) and Philadelphia (5 seasons; 2020). Adding Montreal (4 seasons; 2021) to the mix, it marked the second time ever that five clubs broke a series win drought of four or more seasons in the same playoff year (6 in 2020: 5 in SCQ, 1 in R1).
AVALANCHE, HURRICANES SHOW WHY THEY FINISHED TOP 2
The top two teams from the regular season and the only clubs to hold a playoff spot for the entire campaign were perfect in the First Round as the Avalanche and Hurricanes combined for an unprecedented feat by both claiming 4-0 series wins – something that had never been done in the same round by the League’s No. 1 and No. 2-ranked clubs since all rounds went to best-of-seven in 1987. Both allowed a League-low five goals against in the First Round but the margin of error was slim in both sweeps: the Hurricanes and Senators were within a goal of each other for 94% of total playing time (second most in the 2026 First Round) and the Avalanche had a multi-goal lead for only 30:19 until the third period of Game 4.
* Led by 2025-26 NHL Awards winners Nathan MacKinnon and Scott Wedgewood, Colorado became the seventh Presidents’ Trophy winners to sweep in the opening round. Award winners will be a theme of their Second Round matchup as well, with reigning Norris Trophy winner Cale Makar and 2024-25 recipient Quinn Hughes set to square off after each player netted the series-clinching goal in the opening round.
* Led by Logan Stankoven and Frederik Andersen, the Hurricanes built a 2-0 series lead in their first best-of-seven for the sixth straight playoff year and never trailed in a game en route to becoming the third team in NHL history to win a series in eight straight years.
A SNAPSHOT OF OTHER TEAMS ON TO ROUND 2
* Sparked by early contributions from 19-year-old Porter Martone and balanced scoring with 14 Flyers netting a goal – the most ever for the club through six playoff games – the last Eastern Conference club to clinch a playoff spot pulled ahead 3-0 in the First Round. A team that fell out of the playoff bracket Jan. 13 and didn’t jump back in until April 5 (with five games left in their season), Philadelphia held on to claim its first “Battle of Pennsylvania” series win since 2012 and set up the first-ever playoff meeting with Carolina, the team the Flyers beat to clinch a playoff spot in game No. 81 this season.
* A record-setting round included Kirill Kaprizov becoming the career playoff goals leader for Minnesota, Quinn Hughes setting a franchise record for points in one series by a defenseman and Jesper Wallstedt becoming the first rookie goaltender to be credited with a series-clinching win for the Wild, who have now claimed each of their five series wins as the lower seed.
* In a series that came down to a winner-take-all contest, rookie netminder Jakub Dobes stopped all but one shot in the deciding contest to help the Canadiens win three consecutive Game 7s for the third time in franchise history (also 2021 R1 & 2014 R2), while Dobes became the fifth rookie goaltender in franchise history to win a Game 7. Montreal and Tampa Bay combined for the third series in NHL history that featured seven one-goal games, following the Rangers-Capitals (7 GP in 2015 R2) and Bruins-Capitals (7 GP in 2012 CQF).
TEAM USA COULD GO ALL THE WAY
Six of the eight remaining teams have at least one member of Team USA’s gold medal entry at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 (ANA, BUF, CAR, COL, MIN & VGK). A snapshot of some of the top performers from that team in the First Round:
* Jackson LaCombe (1-8—9) notched the primary assist on Anaheim’s series-clinching goal and led all defensemen in points during the First Round. LaCombe, who was part of the Team USA roster but did not play, established Ducks records for assists and points by a defenseman in one series and tied the all-time NHL mark for most points by a defenseman in his first career playoff series.
* Matt Boldy (6-3—9) shared the NHL lead with six goals in the First Round (one shy of the single-series franchise record) and teammate Quinn Hughes (2-6—8) tallied 2-1—3 in Game 6 including the go-ahead, series-clinching goal with 9:22 remaining in the third period – part of a record-setting round for Hughes as noted above. Brock Faber (3-3—6) tied for the NHL lead among defensemen with three goals, a franchise record for one series by a defenseman.
* Tage Thompson (2-5—7) paced Buffalo in assists and tied for the team lead in points during his first taste of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Thompson’s performance was highlighted by crucial multi-point showings in both the series opener (2-1—3, all in the last 10 minutes of Game 1) – when the club rallied from a 2-0 deficit in the final eight minutes of regulation – and series clincher (0-2—2, both in the first 13 minutes of Game 6).
* Jack Eichel (1-8—9) matched his own club record for assists in one series (also 8 in 2023 SCF) and had at least one point in Games 2-6 to help Vegas claim its 13th series win since joining the League in 2017-18. Noah Hanifin led Golden Knights blueliners with five points, including an assist on the series-clinching goal.
* The others in contention to win both a gold medal and Stanley Cup this season are Jaccob Slavin (CAR) and Brock Nelson (COL).
RECORD RATINGS AND MORE STATS FROM THE FIRST ROUND
The most-watched Stanley Cup Playoffs on record in the U.S. through the first 12 days (through Wednesday, April 29) averaging 1.16 million viewers, up 81% from the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs to date (ESPN/ABC/TNT/TBS/TRU). It marks the highest average viewership for the first 12 days of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on record. An update to First Round numbers will be provided Tuesday, May 5; RSN viewership data not included. A few more highlights from the opening round:
* Alex Tuch (4-3—7), who cheered for the Sabres while growing up in upstate N.Y., led or co-led the team in goals (4) and points (7) and tied the franchise benchmark for game-winning goals in one series (2).
* Jason Robertson scored in each of his first five games and passed Steve Payne (4 GP in 1981) for the longest postseason-opening run in Stars/North Stars history, while also tying Payne (5 GP in 1981) and Milan Marcetta (5 GP in 1968) for the longest goal streak at any point in a playoff year by a Stars/North Stars skater.
* Anze Kopitar received a standing ovation from fans, players and officials at Crypto.com Arena following the final game of his decorated career. 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.
* Sidney Crosby tallied 1-4—5 to overtake Jaromir Jagr for sole possession of fifth place for points in Stanley Cup Playoffs history during his 13th postseason skating alongside Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang.
* The Golden Knights had three third-period comeback wins, tied for the most by one team in a series in Stanley Cup Playoffs history.
EIGHT TEAMS REMAIN
The eight remaining teams account for just two of the last 18 Stanley Cup wins as well as eight of the last 45 dating to 1980. Aside from Montreal, the all-time leader with 23 championships since the NHL’s founding (but none since 1993), the seven other teams have a collection of only eight Stanley Cup wins all-time (COL: 3; PHI: 2; VGK: 1; ANA: 1; CAR: 1; BUF: 0; MIN: 0).
* This is the second time in four postseasons and 10th instance since 1987 (when all four series went to best-of-seven) where neither team that reached the previous Stanley Cup Final advanced beyond the opening round (also 2023, 2019, 2012, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2004, 2003 & 1994).
