Samwise NHL & Hockey Newsletter
Monday, April 27, 2026
MacKinnon Powers Avalanche to Sweep as Kopitar’s Legendary Career Ends
The Colorado Avalanche completed a first-round sweep of the Los Angeles Kings with a 5-1 win in Game 4 on Sunday at Crypto.com Arena, advancing to the second round. Nathan MacKinnon scored twice — including a power-play goal in the first period — and added an assist, while Cale Makar, Nicolas Roy, and Devon Toews also scored. Scott Wedgewood stopped 24 shots. The Presidents’ Trophy-winning Avalanche will face the winner of the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild series. For the Kings, the loss ended the career of Anze Kopitar, 38, who played his final NHL game after 20 seasons in Los Angeles, receiving a standing ovation from the home crowd.
Sources: CBS Sports
Poehling’s Controversial OT Goal Sends Ducks to 3–1 Series Lead Over Oilers
Ryan Poehling scored 2:29 into overtime Sunday at Honda Center to give the Anaheim Ducks a 4-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 4, pushing the defending Western Conference finalists to the brink of first-round elimination. The goal was initially waved off but awarded after review, with Poehling’s attempted pass deflecting off Darnell Nurse’s skate and trickling under goaltender Tristan Jarry. Jeffrey Viel had tied the game at 3-3 with 6:29 remaining in regulation. Kasperi Kapanen and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored for Edmonton in the first period. Lukas Dostal stopped 24 shots for the Ducks, making several key stops on Connor McDavid late.
Sources: TSN
Sabres Score Four in First Period, Rout Bruins 6–1 to Take 3–1 Series Lead
The Buffalo Sabres put the Boston Bruins on the brink of playoff elimination with a 6-1 rout in Game 4 on Sunday at TD Garden. Buffalo scored four goals in the first period from Peyton Krebs, Josh Doan, Zach Benson, and Bowen Byram, and outshot Boston 19-5 in the opening frame. Beck Malenstyn and Alex Tuch added third-period tallies, while Sean Kuraly scored the Bruins’ lone goal on a shorthanded effort late in regulation. It was the first time Boston had surrendered four or more first-period goals in a playoff game since 1991. The Sabres can close out the series in Game 5 in Buffalo.
Sources: NBC Sports Boston
Hagel Scores Twice in Third as Lightning Rally to Even Series with Canadiens
Brandon Hagel scored twice in the third period Sunday to lift the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 3-2 comeback win over the Montreal Canadiens in Game 4 at Bell Centre, evening the Eastern Conference first-round series at two games each. Montreal held a 2-0 lead entering the final period on goals from Zachary Bolduc and Cole Caufield’s power-play strike. Jake Guentzel cut the deficit to 2-1 late in the second period during 4-on-4 play, then Hagel struck twice in the third — a power-play goal at 1:40 and a deflection at 15:07 — both set up by Nikita Kucherov. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 16 shots for Tampa Bay.
Sources: CBC News
Hurricanes Sweep Senators, Advance to Round 2 for Eighth Consecutive Season
The Carolina Hurricanes swept the Ottawa Senators out of the first round with a 4-2 win in Game 4 on Saturday at Canadian Tire Centre, advancing to the second round for the eighth consecutive season. Logan Stankoven scored the go-ahead goal in the third period, while Sebastian Aho added two empty-net goals and Taylor Hall contributed a goal and an assist. Frederik Andersen made 25 saves. Ottawa finished the series 1-for-21 on the power play and never led in any game. Carolina became just the third franchise in NHL history to advance in eight straight playoff years, joining the Montreal Canadiens and the Philadelphia Flyers.
Sources: TSN
Boldy’s Late OT Goal Ties Wild–Stars at 2–2 in First-Round Thriller
Matt Boldy scored on a deflection with 28.9 seconds remaining in overtime Friday to give the Minnesota Wild a 3-2 win over the Dallas Stars in Game 4, tying one of the tightest series in the 2026 first round at two games each. Game 5 is scheduled for Monday in Dallas. The series has been tightly fought throughout, with Dallas winning Game 2 on two Wyatt Johnston goals and capturing Game 3 in double overtime on another Johnston tally. Minnesota has won its two games in overtime. The Stars, who finished second in the Central Division, will host the decisive fifth game.
Sources: NHL.com
Utah Mammoth Win First Home Playoff Game in Franchise History vs. Golden Knights
The Utah Mammoth made history April 24 at Delta Center, becoming the first NHL team to host a Stanley Cup Playoff game in Salt Lake City, and marked the occasion with a 4-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 3 of their Western Conference first-round series. Lawson Crouse scored twice in the second period, MacKenzie Weegar added a goal and an assist, and Dylan Guenther also scored. Karel Vejmelka made 29 saves for Utah, which generated only 12 shots on goal. The win gave the Mammoth a 2-1 series lead with Game 4 set for Monday night in Salt Lake City.
Sources: Standard-Examiner
Sabres’ Norris Out Day-to-Day; Draisaitl Returns from Long-Term Injured Reserve
Buffalo Sabres forward Josh Norris missed Games 3 and 4 of their first-round series against Boston with an undisclosed injury suffered in Game 2 when he was hit awkwardly into the boards. Head coach Lindy Ruff listed Norris as day-to-day, with rookie center Noah Ostlund stepping into the lineup for both contests. Norris did not practice with the team on April 25 at TD Garden. In Edmonton, Leon Draisaitl was activated off long-term injured reserve in time for Game 1 against the Anaheim Ducks, ending a 14-game regular-season absence due to a lower-body injury. Draisaitl traveled to Germany for specialist treatment before completing his rehabilitation with the Oilers.
Sources: Pro Hockey Rumors
Stanley Cup Playoffs — First Round
Eastern Conference
Carolina Hurricanes vs Ottawa Senators — Hurricanes win 4–0
Philadelphia Flyers vs Pittsburgh Penguins — Flyers lead 3–1
Buffalo Sabres vs Boston Bruins — Sabres lead 3–1
Tampa Bay Lightning vs Montreal Canadiens — Series tied 2–2
Western Conference
Colorado Avalanche vs Los Angeles Kings — Avalanche win 4–0
Dallas Stars vs Minnesota Wild — Series tied 2–2
Utah Mammoth vs Vegas Golden Knights — Mammoth lead 2–1
Anaheim Ducks vs Edmonton Oilers — Ducks lead 3–1
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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