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.

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Saturday Round 1 results and schedule

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

Minnesota Wild 6, Dallas Stars 1 (Wild lead series 1-0)

Philadelphia Flyers 3, Pittsburgh Penguins 2 (Flyers lead series 1-0)

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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

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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.

Wild 6, Stars 1

Minnesota struck first in Saturday's game, as Joel Eriksson Ek found the back of the net on a power play.

The Wild eventually thrived in the second period, scoring three straight goals to take a 4-0 lead.

The Stars finally responded with a goal of their own before the second period came to a close, but the Wild scored a pair of goals in the third to wrap up the lopsided victory.

Minnesota finished with 29 shots in the win.

Flyers 3, Penguins 2

After both teams were tied 1-1 through two periods, Travis Sanheim scored a go-ahead goal for the Flyers midway through the third.

Porter Martone gave Philadelphia a two-goal lead with just under three minutes remaining in the game, as the 19-year-old rookie scored on a wrist shot.

Bryan Rust recorded a goal for the Penguins to cut the deficit to 3-2 shortly afterwards, but they ultimately weren't able to pull off a late comeback.

Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar made 15 saves in the win.

Game 2 between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh is on Monday at 7 p.m. ET.