Biggest Overreactions After the First Games of the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs
We're now at least one game into each series of the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, and boy, has each series delivered in its own, unique way.
The crowd in Buffalo did not disappoint as it cheered on a thrilling Sabres win. The Hurricanes-Senators series out east is fulfilling our cravings for prolific defense performances, while the dish soap classic (Oilers-Ducks) out West is already scratching the scoring itch. The Stars evened their series up last night in a strong performance from Wyatt Johnston after a Game 1, 6-1 shocking clunker to the Wild.
So much has already happened, and we're not even halfway through the round. Let's start dishing out some overreactions after the first games of the playoffs.
Hurricanes-Senators: Canes Look Like Contenders
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It's not the most outrageous take in the world to say the No. 1 seed out East is looking like a contender, but we've seen the Hurricanes dominate the regular season just to dry up in the playoffs time and time again.
This is actually the first time in franchise history they came into the playoffs as the No. 1 seed, though, and ironically, they got rewarded with their hardest first-round opponent in the past five years.
This series has gone as expected through the first two games: tight and defense-first, as the top lines have gone tit-for-tat and thus far cancelled each other out on the scoresheet.
The Hurricanes' depth scoring, led by Logan Stankoven and the second line, has been the difference. Both goaltenders have been great, but Carolina's decision to roll with Freddie Andersen has also contributed to their 2-0 series lead. These have been two of the biggest issues for this team throughout the years, so if they can keep it up, they look primed to make it out of the East.
Penguins-Flyers: Where's Sidney Crosby???
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We watched Sidney Crosby commit two penalties out of pure frustration in Game 1 as he stayed off the scoresheet in the Penguins' loss. Knowing him, we figured the captain would bounce back in a big way in Game 2.
Instead, Crosby and the Penguins' stars were nowhere to be found as the Flyers shut them out to take a 2-0 series lead in the Penguins' barn. Meanwhile, 19-year-old Porter Martone became the first teenager in NHL history to score the winning goal in his first two career playoff games.
We're seeing some younger cores start their own narratives early in the first round, whether it's the Canadiens putting the Lightning on their toes or the Flyers squeaking into the playoffs and earning a commanding lead in the Battle of Pennsylvania.
Regardless of what happens next, the Flyers' ability to completely shut out Crosby and neutralize most of the Penguins' stars is impressive -- and concerning for Crosby.
Sabres-Bruins: The Vibes Genuinely Matter
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The highlight of this postseason so far is seeing playoff hockey return to Buffalo after 15 long years. The atmosphere in Buffalo is truly special, and it helped produce a Sabres comeback and a stunning 4-3, Game 1 win over the Bruins.
Tage Thompson scored two in his Stanley Cup playoff debut in front of this crowd. Buffalo's own Alex Tuch finished off the Sabres' scoring with an empty-netter. It wasn't a perfect win -- the Bruins were up 2-0 to start, and David Pastrnak scored right after Tuch at the end to cut the Sabres' lead -- but it didn't have to be perfect.
Home ice advantage is going to be huge for the Sabres, so it's a good thing they weren't satisfied with simply making the playoffs this regular season. Their fight for seeding gives the atmosphere more of an opportunity to chip in, and that's genuinely going to matter.
.png?w=256 "Playoff Winners and Losers")
Lightning-Canadiens: The Habs Are Maturing Before Our Eyes
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This series is living up to expectations as a fast-paced matchup between a veteran Lightning core with another run or two left in it and an up-and-coming Canadiens group that just keeps getting better in its new playoff window.
Are the Lightning going to pass the torch? They did everything they could to stop the Habs in Game 1, but when overtime came, you knew this was the exact opportunity the Canadiens were making an identity thriving off of.
None other than big game Juraj Slafkovský seized the opportunity as the Canadiens took Game 1.
The Canadiens are fearless with a ton of rising talent, and they've gotten used to coming out of close games on top. It's a risky strategy, but they keep proving it often works for them.
The Lightning are going to have to dominate games if they don't want to pass the torch to the next generation in this first round.
Avalanche-Kings: LA is Overmatched
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We've seen what we needed to see.
The Kings played to their absolute strengths in Game 1: They controlled the game early on with their defensive structure, and Artemi Panarin scored a goal.
It didn't matter. As well as LA played, Colorado turned the game on its head for the 2-1 win.
You might think the overreaction here would be that the Avalanche aren't as dominant as we thought because they didn't run up the score, but this is Game 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs we're talking about.
Winning a close game that was also LA's best shot to beat them, playing LA's preferred style of game, is a more chess vs. checkers type win. It reminded me of the turning point that eventually took the Oilers past the Kings last year, but a few games ahead of schedule.
There just aren't many tricks left up the Kings' sleeve.
Wild-Stars: This Series is Going 7
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Plenty of folks were baffled by Game 1's 6-1 loss, which featured a stark lack of offensive effort from the Stars. They came out with a 4-2, Game 2 win to remind us all that all that matters come playoff time is "win" or "loss" if you can shake off a stinker.
The Stars and the Wild are two of the best teams in the NHL, each team with its own set of beliefs and systems. While the Stars' Game 1 performance was alarming, given how good — and how close — these teams are, the "closeness" will come game-for-game, not necessarily shift-for-shift. These are both teams that thrive when they play their own brand of hockey and get to their game first.
So the most important thing each night in this Wild-Stars series is going to be establishing dominance early and often. Whoever gets to their game and style of play first is likely going to win. This obviously holds true in the Stanley Cup playoffs, but it rings truest in this Wild-Stars matchup.
We went into this matchup expecting it to be the closest in the first round. Maybe we expected that to look more like close scores and shift-by-shift nail-biting. It's more like "this is going to seven, and we're going to have no idea at all who is coming out on top."
That feeling is even more special and close in its own way.
Golden Knights-Mammoth: Vegas is Finally Figuring It Out
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Vegas looked scary good in its come-from-behind 4-2, Game 1 win over Utah.
The composure to tie it up 2-2, then the ensuing dominance with two more goals for good measure, reminds us that despite lackluster end-of-season play, the Golden Knights were built for the postseason.
Is it fair that a team can lose so many overtime games and still manage to snag the No. 1 spot in a division? We can debate that, but each division in the NHL has its ups and downs over the years -- nothing is ever perfectly fair. Vegas knew what it had to do to stay atop the Pacific, accomplished that, and now it's time to perform.
So far, the Golden Knights are meeting the standard we expected of them this season. Maybe they've just mastered the art of regular-season hockey vs playoff hockey.
Oilers-Ducks: Edmonton Better Watch Out
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The "no defense, just vibes" series of the first round got underway last night as the Oilers beat the Ducks 4-3. The series is living up to expectations already, as the Oilers let a 2-0 lead drop to 2-2 when the Ducks found their footing on offense.
Edmonton still managed to eke out the narrow win, yes, but it didn't do much to dispel the narrative that things are going to be sloppy and difficult on defense for the reigning Western Conference Champions.
The second period in particular was a dumpster fire for Edmonton. While they've been able to get away with period after period like this over the past few years, and while they may squeak past the Ducks with periods like this, it's not going to fly against whichever team emerges out of the Central this year.
.png?w=480 "Playoff Winners and Losers")
