NHL Playoffs Tracker: Series Results, Top Scorers, April 24 Schedule
The Colorado Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes took commanding playoff series leads on Thursday, while the Buffalo Sabres got an important win on the road.
Three games are on the schedule for Friday's NHL action, and all of them will see a squad take a 2-1 lead in their first-round series. And the Utah Mammoth will host their first Stanley Cup playoff game ever.
Here are series updates, odds for the next game in each matchup from BetMGM, leading scorers in the early stages of the playoffs and the schedule for Friday.
NHL Playoffs 2026 First-Round Schedule: Dates, Times, Where To Watch
The Stanley Cup playoffs begin on April 18 as the NHL announced the dates for every first-round series. Here's when and how to watch them.
Carolina Hurricanes (M1) vs. Ottawa Senators (WC2)
Carolina leads 3-0
Game 1: Ottawa 0, Carolina 2
Game 2: Ottawa 2, Carolina 3 (2OT)
Game 3: Carolina 2, Ottawa 1
Game 4 odds on BetMGM: Carolina (1.91/-110), Ottawa (1.91/-110)
- Ottawa Senators' Best Defenseman Leaves Game 3 Following A Headshot And A Shot Block
- Senators Lose Game 3 (And Jake Sanderson), Now On Brink Of Being Swept By Carolina
Pittsburgh Penguins (M2) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (M3)
Philadelphia leads 3-0
Game 1: Philadelphia 3, Pittsburgh 2
Game 2: Philadelphia 3, Pittsburgh 0
Game 3: Pittsburgh 2, Philadelphia 5
Game 4 odds on BetMGM: Pittsburgh (2.00/+100), Philadelphia (1.83/-120)
- Old-Time Flyers Hockey Rocks Philadelphia: 'The Crowd Went Bananas'
- Penguins' Strong Start Goes Sideways As Flyers Take Commanding 3-0 Series Lead
- Dan Vladar Injury Update: Flyers Goalie 'Feels Better'
Buffalo Sabres (A1) vs. Boston Bruins (WC1)
Buffalo leads 2-1
Game 1: Boston 3, Buffalo 4
Game 2: Boston 4, Buffalo 2
Game 3: Buffalo 3, Boston 1
Game 4 odds on BetMGM: Buffalo (1.95/-105), Boston (1.87/-115)
- Should Colton Parayko Regret Declining A Trade To The Buffalo Sabres?
- Boston's One Major Error Cost Them Game 3
- The Sabres' First Home Playoff Game Absolutely Lived Up To The Hype In Win Over Bruins
Tampa Bay Lightning (A2) vs. Montreal Canadiens (A3)
Series tied 1-1
Game 1: Montreal 4, Tampa Bay 3 (OT)
Game 2: Montreal 2, Tampa Bay 3 (OT)
Game 3 odds on BetMGM: Tampa Bay (1.83/-110), Montreal (2.00/+100)
- Canadiens: Time For A Big Dose Of Experience?
- Lightning Set For Game 3 In Montreal As Series Shifts To Bell Centre
Colorado Avalanche (C1) vs. Los Angeles Kings (WC2)
Colorado leads 3-0
Game 1: Los Angeles 1, Colorado 2
Game 2: Los Angeles 1, Colorado 2 (OT)
Game 3: Colorado 4, Los Angeles 2
Game 4 odds on BetMGM: Colorado (1.59/-170), Los Angeles (2.40/+140)
- Colorado Surges In Game 3 Win
- Kings Fall Into 3-0 Hole In Game 3 Loss To Avalanche, Face Elimination
- Why The 2026 Colorado Avalanche Look Ready To Break The Presidents' Trophy Curse
Dallas Stars (C2) vs. Minnesota Wild (C3)
Dallas leads 2-1
Game 1: Minnesota 6, Dallas 1
Game 2: Minnesota 2, Dallas 4
Game 3: Dallas 4, Minnesota 3 (2OT)
Game 4 odds on BetMGM: Dallas (2.10/+110), Minnesota (1.75/-133)
- NHL's Top Power-Play Scorer Strikes Again In The Clutch
- Wild Let Special Teams Slip And The Series Is Slipping With It
- Stars Break Wild Hearts in Double OT Thriller
Vegas Golden Knights (P1) vs. Utah Mammoth (WC1)
Series tied 1-1
Game 1: Utah 2, Vegas 4
Game 2: Utah 3, Vegas 2
Game 3 odds on BetMGM: Vegas (1.91/-110), Utah (1.91/-110)
- Utah Vs. Vegas Turns Personal As Mammoth Launch Jersey Exchange For Fans
- Which Three Knights Need To Step Up In Salt Lake City?
Edmonton Oilers (P2) vs. Anaheim Ducks (P3)
Series tied 1-1
Game 1: Anaheim 3, Edmonton 4
Game 2: Anaheim 6, Edmonton 4
Game 3 odds on BetMGM: Edmonton (1.75/-133), Anaheim (2.10/+110)
- The Anaheim Ducks Solve Oilers' Connor McDavid – For Now
- Joel Quenneville's Cheeky Lineup Adjustment Pays Off
- Kris Knoblauch Offers Injury Updates On McDavid, Dickinson And Henrique
Leading Scorers
T-1. David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins: 5 points, 3 games
T-1. Joel Eriksson Ek, Minnesota Wild: 5 points, 3 games
T-1. Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars: 5 points, 3 games
T-1: Wyatt Johnston, Dallas Stars: 5 points, 3 games
T-1: Matt Duchene, Dallas Stars: 5 points, 3 games
T-1: Taylor Hall, Carolina Hurricanes: 5 points, 3 games
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This story was originally published April 24, 2026 at 9:23 AM.