Samwise NHL & Hockey Newsletter
Thursday, April 23, 2026
Flyers Push Penguins to Brink of Elimination with 5-2 Game 3 Victory
Trevor Zegras and Noah Cates each scored and added an assist, while goaltender Dan Vladar stopped 28 shots as the Philadelphia Flyers defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference First Round on Wednesday at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Rasmus Ristolainen and Nick Seeler also scored for Philadelphia, who now lead the best-of-7 series 3-0. The win marked Philadelphia’s first home playoff game in eight years. Evgeni Malkin and Erik Karlsson replied for Pittsburgh, who face potential elimination in Game 4 on Saturday. Stuart Skinner made 24 saves. Teams that lead 3-0 in a best-of-7 are 209-4 historically.
Sources: NHL.com
Gauthier Scores Twice as Ducks Rally to Stun Oilers 6-4, Even Series
Cutter Gauthier scored twice, including the go-ahead goal at 15:08 of the third period, as the Anaheim Ducks rallied to defeat the Edmonton Oilers 6-4 in Game 2 of the Western Conference First Round on Wednesday at Rogers Place, tying the series 1-1. Alex Killorn contributed a goal and two assists, and Lukas Dostal made 33 saves for his first career Stanley Cup Playoff win. Leon Draisaitl, playing in his first game back from a knee injury that cost him the final 14 regular-season games, scored and added an assist for Edmonton, which will host Game 3 on Friday.
Sources: NHL.com
Johnston Scores in Double OT as Stars Defeat Wild 4-3, Lead Series 2-1
Wyatt Johnston scored on a power play at 12:10 of the second overtime to give the Dallas Stars a 4-3 victory against the Minnesota Wild in Game 3 of the Western Conference First Round on Wednesday at Grand Casino Arena, giving Dallas a 2-1 series lead. Johnston deflected a Miro Heiskanen point shot from the slot. Matt Duchene contributed a goal and three assists, while Jason Robertson and Mikko Rantanen also scored. Marcus Johansson, Joel Eriksson Ek, and Michael McCarron replied for Minnesota. Dallas played without center Roope Hintz, who is sidelined with a lower-body injury.
Sources: NHL.com
Logan Cooley's Late Goal Lifts Utah Mammoth to First Playoff Win in Franchise History
Logan Cooley scored the go-ahead goal late in the third period as the Utah Mammoth defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2 in Game 2 of the Western Conference First Round on Tuesday at T-Mobile Arena, claiming the first Stanley Cup Playoff victory in franchise history and tying the series 1-1. Cooley, 21, buried a rebound off a Dylan Guenther shot to secure the milestone win. The goal also made Cooley the youngest United States-born player in NHL history to score in each of his first two career playoff games, surpassing the record previously held by Mammoth captain Clayton Keller.
Sources: NHL.com
Nicolas Roy's Overtime Winner Puts Avalanche Up 2-0 on Kings
The Colorado Avalanche are proving their Stanley Cup contender credentials, rallying from a one-goal deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 in overtime in Game 2 on Tuesday at Ball Arena, seizing a 2-0 first-round series lead. Nicolas Roy scored 7:44 into overtime on a Josh Manson rebound during a goalmouth scramble. Gabriel Landeskog tied the score 1-1 with 3:35 left in regulation, converting a Martin Necas cross-crease pass. Scott Wedgewood made 24 saves, including stopping a Quinton Byfield penalty shot in the second period while shorthanded. Game 3 is set for Thursday night in Los Angeles.
Sources: NHL.com
Stars' Hintz Out Until at Least Game 5, Won't Travel to Minnesota for Games 3-4
Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz will not travel with the team to Minnesota for Games 3 and 4 of the Western Conference First Round against the Wild, with his earliest possible return now Game 5, coach Glen Gulutzan confirmed on Tuesday. Hintz last played March 6 when he sustained a lower-body injury against the Colorado Avalanche. The Finnish center has been sidelined for more than six weeks. His absence removes Dallas’s most productive two-way forward, but the Stars overcame a Game 1 blowout to win Game 2 and then claimed Game 3 in double overtime on Wednesday.
Sources: TSN
Host Slovakia Upsets Canada 2-1 at IIHF U18 World Championship
Host Slovakia scored twice, including Timothy Kazda netting the go-ahead goal on a power play midway through the third period, to defeat defending two-time champion Canada 2-1 in opening-round action at the 2026 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship on Wednesday in Trencin, Slovakia. The loss is an early setback for Canada, which entered as a heavy favorite after winning back-to-back gold medals. Boosted by a raucous home crowd, Slovakia controlled the third period and held off a late Canadian rally. The tournament runs through May 2, with Canada still set to face Latvia, Norway, and Finland in the preliminary round.
Sources: IIHF.com
Stanley Cup Playoffs — First Round
Eastern Conference
Flyers vs. Penguins — Philadelphia leads 3–0
Hurricanes vs. Senators — Carolina leads 2–0
Lightning vs. Canadiens — Series tied 1–1
Bruins vs. Sabres — Series tied 1–1
Western Conference
Avalanche vs. Kings — Colorado leads 2–0
Stars vs. Wild — Dallas leads 2–1
Mammoth vs. Golden Knights — Series tied 1–1
Oilers vs. Ducks — Series tied 1–1
Curated by JD · samwise.agency