Updated 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Bracket, Schedule and Top Highlights from April 18

The NHL is one step closer to crowning a new Stanley Cup champion.

The 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs kicked off Saturday with a matinee game between the Ottawa Senators and the Carolina Hurricanes.

Here's a look at today's results and what to expect from the upcoming schedule.

---

Saturday Round 1 results and schedule

Carolina Hurricanes 2, Ottawa Senators 0 (Hurricanes lead series 1-0)

Minnesota Wild at Dallas Stars, Game 1: 5:30 p.m. ET

Philadelphia Flyers at Pittsburgh Penguins, Game 1: 8 p.m. ET

---

Sunday Round 1 schedule

Los Angeles Kings at Colorado Avalanche, Game 1: 3 p.m. ET

Montreal Canadiens at Tampa Bay Lightning, Game 1: 5:45 p.m. ET

Boston Bruins at Buffalo Sabres, Game 1: 7:30 p.m. ET

Utah Mammoth at Vegas Golden Knights, Game 1: 10 p.m. ET

---

Saturday highlights

Hurricanes 2, Senators 0

Saturday night's playoff opener started with a fight at puck drop between Senators captain Brady Tkachuk and Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal.

Logan Stankoven opened scoring for the Hurricanes with the first goal of the 2026 playoffs early in the second period.

The Hurricanes largely shut down the Senators for the rest of the game, holding the visitors to just nine total shots at even strength and killing off multiple penalties in order to keep the Senators off the board.

Carolina's Taylor Hall scored an insurance goal early in the third period. Frederik Andersen made 22 saves to record his sixth career playoff shutout.

The Senators will face the Hurricanes in North Carolina again on Monday before the series heads north of the border for a Thursday evening matchup in Ottawa.

---

This article will be updated soon to provide more information and analysis.

Make Bleacher Report one of your preferred sources on Google by selecting Bleacher Report on the "source preferences" page here.

For more from Bleacher Report, check out our B/R app, homepage and social feeds—including Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube.