Updated 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Bracket, Schedule and Top Highlights from April 26

The 2026 NHL playoffs brought a slate of four first-round games on Sunday.

The Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins opened the day with a Game 4 clash that the Sabres won in dominant fashion. The Colorado Avalanche then became the second team to punch their ticket to the second round.

Here's a look at Sunday's results and highlights, plus the upcoming playoff schedule.

Sunday Results

Buffalo Sabres def. Boston Bruins, 6-1 (BUF leads series 3-1)

Colorado Avalanche def. Los Angeles Kings, 5-1 (COL wins series 4-0)

Tampa Bay Lightning def. Montreal Canadiens, 3-2 (Series tied 2-2)

Anaheim Ducks def. Edmonton Oilers, 4-3 (ANA leads series 3-1)

Monday Schedule

Philadelphia Flyers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, 7:00 p.m. ET (PHI leads series 3-1)

Vegas Golden Knights vs. Utah Mammoth, 9:30 p.m. ET (UTA leads series 2-1)

Sunday Highlights

Sabres 6, Bruins 1

The Sabres stole a second straight road win with a furious attack that put the game away early. Buffalo scored four of its six goals in the first period.

Peyton Krebs opened the scoring just four minutes into the game off an assist from Alex Tuch. Bowen Byram notched his third goal of the series to cap the opening frame with a 4-0 lead.

However, the Sabres weren't done there. Tuch and Beck Malenstyn recorded goals within two minutes of one another in the third period for the exclamation point.

Tensions eventually boiled over for Boston, leading to a brief scuffle late in the game.

The Bruins didn't get on the board until Sean Kuraly converted a shorthanded goal with less than a minute left to ruin the shutout.

While Buffalo relentlessly attacked the goal with 35 shots, goalie Alex Lyon had to make just 21 saves in the victory, as Boston couldn't get much going on Sunday. The Bruins pulled goalie Jeremy Swayman in the third period and replaced him with Joonas Korpisalo in the final minutes.

Avalanche 5, Kings 1

Just like it has been for most of the series, it was smooth sailing for most of the game for Colorado.

The Avalanche got off to a hot start with a goal from Nathan MacKinnon in the first period. It was his first goal of the playoffs.

The two teams ended the first period with a lengthy fight.

Colorado made it 2-1 in the second period after a goal from Cale Makar, but Joel Edmundson answered back for the Kings.

It was all Colorado in the third period, as they scored three unanswered goals to close out the game and the series.

After dominating their first-round matchup, the Avalanche will look to keep their momentum going in the second round.

Lightning 3, Canadiens 2

The Canadiens were looking to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the series, but the Lightning had other plans.

Montreal was in control through the early going, taking a 2-0 lead after goals from Zachary Bolduc and Cole Caufield in the second period.

The Lightning didn't let the game get away from them, though, as Jake Guentzel gave Tampa Bay its first goal of the game in the second period.

Brandon Hagel then tied things up in the third and later gave Tampa Bay the lead with his second goal of the night, which came on an assist from Nikita Kucherov.

Montreal had a few opportunities down the stretch, including a power play in the final minute, but it ultimately couldn't answer. Now, the series is all tied up and will head back to Tampa for Game 5.

Ducks 4, Oilers 3

There was no shortage of drama in the final game of the night.

Edmonton was in control early, taking a 2-0 lead in the first period after goals from Kasperi Kapanen and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

But the Ducks came storming back in the second period, evening things up after Cutter Gauthier and Mikael Granlund scored.

The Oilers were back in front momentarily in the third period after Evan Bouchard found the back of the net on a power play, but Jeffrey Viel scored the equalizer that would eventually force overtime.

In overtime, the Ducks got a good look at the goal a minute and a half in, but Gauthier's shot attempt was blocked. Moments later, Ryan Poehling snuck the puck into the net, and it was confirmed as a goal after a lengthy review.

The Ducks are now just one win away from winning their first playoff series since 2017.