Updated 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Bracket, Schedule and Top Highlights from April 24

The Montreal Canadiens started out Friday's Stanley Cup playoff action by taking a first-round series lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Lane Hutson scored just over two minutes into overtime to secure a 3-2 win for the Canadiens in Friday night's Game 3 in Montreal.

Here's a look at Friday's results and the upcoming schedule as the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs continues this weekend.

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Friday schedule and results

Montreal Canadiens 3, Tampa Bay Lightning 2 in OT (Canadiens lead 2-1)

Utah Mammoth 4, Vegas Golden Knights 2 (Mammoth lead 2-1)

Edmonton Oilers at Anaheim Ducks, 10 p.m. ET (Series tied 1-1)

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Saturday schedule

Carolina Hurricanes at Ottawa Senators, 3 p.m. ET (Hurricanes lead 3-0)

Dallas Stars at Minnesota Wild, 5:30 p.m. ET (Stars lead 2-1)

Pittsburgh Penguins at Philadelphia Flyers, 8 p.m. ET (Flyers lead 3-0)

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Friday highlights

Canadiens 3, Lightning 2 (OT)

For the third time in as many playoff games, the Lightning and Canadiens went to overtime Friday night.

For the second straight outing, it was the Canadiens who emerged victorious from the extra period.

The crowd at Bell Centre first erupted when Alexandre Texier opened scoring for the Habs five minutes into the first period.

After two Lightning goals, Kirby Dach got the crowd back in it with a tying goal late in the second.

The Canadiens got two breakaway chances in the third period, but were unable to beat Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy.

Vasilevskiy made one last stop at the third-period buzzer to send the game to overtime before Hutson beat him on the slapshot early in overtime.

The Lightning will look to even the series with a road win when the puck drops for Game 4 in Montreal on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET.

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Mammoth 4, Golden Knights 2

The Mammoth dominated early in the first playoff home game in Utah history.

The NHL's newest franchise started out Game 3 by scoring four goals on just eight shots against Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart.

Jack Eichel scored midway through the game for the Golden Knights before Nic Dowd cut the Mammoth's lead to two with three minutes left in regulation.

The Golden Knights were ultimately unable to recover from the early deficit despite outshooting the Mammoth 31-12.

Vegas will hope to regroup with a better start to Monday's Game 4 in Salt Lake City.

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

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