by Vegas Writer
Monday, May 04, 2026If there were ever a broad display of unpredictability in playoff hockey, it was during the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. A whopping 82% of playing time had teams tied or separated by just one goal, while 29% featured dramatic sudden-death overtime (13 of 45 games). In addition, Six series required at least six games, including a sixth straight year with an opening-round Game 7.
And as we gear up for a new-look conference semifinal round, only two teams that were there last year advanced, and, for the second time in four postseasons, neither team that made the last Stanley Cup Final will be part of round two.
To better guide you and perhaps assist with what the remaining teams are capable of, or who might be viable options for player props during the next round:
TRENDS OF THE 2026 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS
For the third time in five years, at least six of eight series in the First Round required six-plus games, including three that were tied 2-2 and one that went to Game 7.
And as we gear up for a new-look conference semifinal round, only two teams that were there last year advanced, and, for the second time in four postseasons, neither team that made the last Stanley Cup Final will be part of round two.
To better guide you and perhaps assist with what the remaining teams are capable of, or who might be viable options for player props during the next round:
TRENDS OF THE 2026 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS
For the third time in five years, at least six of eight series in the First Round required six-plus games, including three that were tied 2-2 and one that went to Game 7.
- 89% of games were close games (40 of 45 games played), tied with 2024 for the highest rate for an opening round in Stanley Cup Playoffs history (close games defined as one-goal margin of victory or two or more with at least one empty-net goal).
- 82% of all playing time, the score has been tied or separated by one goal, the highest rate at this stage in 74 years (tied).
- 29% of games in the opening round required overtime (13 of 45 games), and for the fifth time in Stanley Cup Playoffs history, all eight series in the opening round had at least one overtime game.
- There were 20 tying or go-ahead goals in the final 10 minutes of regulation, tied with 1983 (20) for the second most ever at that stage of a postseason (45 games played) behind 1989 (22).
POWER OF TWO
The top two teams from the regular season and the only clubs to hold a playoff spot for the entire campaign were perfect in the First Round, as the Colorado Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes combined for an unprecedented feat by both registering 4-0 series sweeps, something that had never been done in the same round by the league's top two ranked clubs since all rounds went to a best-of-seven format in 1987. Both teams allowed an NHL-low five goals against during the opening round, and the margin of error was slim in both series. Carolina and the Ottawa Senators were within a goal of each other 94% of total playing time, while the Avalanche had a multi-goal lead against the Los Angeles Kings for only 30:19 until the third period of Game 4.
THE REST OF THE FIELD
- Sparked by early contributions from 19-year-old Porter Martone and balanced scoring, 14 Philadelphia Flyers netted a goal – the most ever for the club through six playoff games. Keep in mind this was a team that fell out of the playoff bracket on Jan. 13 and didn’t find itself back in the race until April 5, with five games left in their season, and then held on to claim its first "Battle of Pennsylvania" series win since 2012.
- It was a record-setting round for the Minnesota Wild, including Kirill Kaprizov becoming the career playoff goals leader for Minnesota, Quinn Hughes setting a franchise record for points in one series by a defenseman, and Jesper Wallstedt becoming the first rookie goaltender to be credited with a series-clinching win. Minnesota has now claimed each of its five series wins as the lower seed.
- In a series that came down to a winner-take-all contest, rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes was brilliant in stopping all but one shot in Game 7 to lead the Montreal Canadiens. Dobes became the fifth rookie goaltender in franchise history to win a Game 7.
USA! USA! USA!
Six of the eight remaining teams have at least one member of Team USA’s gold medal team from the 2026 Olympic Winter Games (Anaheim, Buffalo, Carolina, Colorado, Minnesota and Vegas). Here is a glimpse at some of the top performers from Team USA members during the First Round:
- Jackson LaCombe (1 goal, 8 assists) registered the primary assist on Anaheim’s series-clinching goal and led all defensemen in points during the opening round. LaCombe, who was part of Team USA but did not play, established Ducks records for assists and points by a defenseman in one series and tied the all-time NHL mark for most points by a defenseman in his first career playoff series.
- Matt Boldy (6 goals, 3 assists) shared the NHL lead with six goals in the opening round, one shy of the single-series franchise record, while teammate Quinn Hughes (2 goals, 6 assists) tallied two goals and an assist in Game 6, including the go-ahead, series-clinching goal with 9:22 remaining in the third period. Brock Faber (3 goals, 3 assists) tied for the NHL lead among defensemen with three goals, a franchise record for one series by a defenseman.
- Tage Thompson (2 goals, 5 assists) paced Buffalo in assists and tied for the team lead in points during his first trip to the playoffs. Thompson’s performance was highlighted by crucial multi-point showings in both the series opener (2 goals, 1 assist), all in the last 10 minutes of Game 1, when the club rallied from a 2-0 deficit in the final eight minutes of regulation, and the series clincher.
- Jack Eichel (1 goal, 8 assists) matched his own club record for assists in one series and had at least one point in Games 2-6 to help Vegas claim its 13th series win since joining the NHL in 2017-18. Noah Hanifin led Golden Knights blueliners with five points, including an assist on the series-clinching goal.
- The others in contention to win both a gold medal and Stanley Cup this season are Jaccob Slavin (Carolina) and Brock Nelson (Colorado).
MORE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE OPENING ROUND
- Alex Tuch (4 goals, 3 assists) led or co-led the team in goals (4) and points (7) and tied the franchise benchmark for game-winning goals in one series (2).
- Jason Robertson scored in each of his first five games for the longest postseason-opening run in Stars/North Stars history.
- Sidney Crosby turned in a goal and four assists to overtake Jaromir Jagr for sole possession of fifth place for points in Stanley Cup Playoffs history during his 13th postseason, skating alongside Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang.
- The Golden Knights had three third-period comeback wins, tied for the most by one team in a series in Stanley Cup Playoffs history.
NEW LOOK NHL POSTSEASON
Make note, youth was served with the four youngest playoff rosters advancing to the second round (based on the average age of each team's 20-player roster for their playoff openers). It's just the fourth time in postseason history that each of the four youngest clubs won a series.
- In total, 80 players made their postseason debut last month, ranking among the top 10 for most playoff debuts in any round in NHL history and the most in a 16-team postseason since 2018, when 80 players also debuted in the first round.
- Regardless of playoff experience, 45 players notched their first career playoff goal in the opening round, the most "first-playoff goals" in a single round since 2014 (61 in the opening round) and tied for seventh most in any round in NHL history.
- Six of the eight teams that have advanced weren't there last season (Anaheim, Buffalo, Colorado, Minnesota, Philadelphia and Montreal). It’s the first time since 2019 the second round will feature at least six clubs that weren’t there the year prior.
