CURRENT EVENTS

What is the current NHL playoff bracket and which teams have advanced so far?

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The Hurricanes became the first team to advance to the second round after sweeping the Senators, while multiple first-round series remain competitive.

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First team to advanceCarolina Hurricanes swept Ottawa Senators 4-0
Canadiens vs LightningMontreal leads 2-1 after Lane Hutson's overtime winner in Game 3
Utah Mammoth vs VegasMammoth leads 2-1 after 4-2 home victory
Ducks vs OilersAnaheim leads 2-1 after dominant 7-4 victory
Stars vs WildSeries tied 2-2 after Minnesota tied it with a victory
Penguins vs FlyersTied 2-2 after Pittsburgh won Game 4 to stay alive

Teams That Have Advanced

The Carolina Hurricanes became the first team to reach the second round by sweeping the Ottawa Senators 4-0 in their first-round series.

Eastern Conference First Round Status

The Canadiens lead the Lightning 2-1 in a closely contested series that has gone to overtime in all three games. Lane Hutson scored the overtime winner in Game 3 on Friday. The Penguins and Flyers are tied 2-2 after Sidney Crosby and Pittsburgh stayed alive with a Game 4 victory. The Hurricanes have already advanced with their sweep.

Western Conference First Round Status

The Anaheim Ducks lead the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 following a dominant 7-4 victory. The Utah Mammoth, the NHL's newest franchise, lead the Vegas Golden Knights 2-1 after winning their first home playoff game 4-2. The Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild have tied their series 2-2 after Minnesota defeated Dallas.

Notable Performances

Lane Hutson's overtime slap shot from the blue line gave Montreal the win in Game 3 against Tampa Bay. Sidney Crosby led the Penguins to victory to keep their season alive against Philadelphia. Connor McDavid scored his first goal of the 2026 playoffs for Edmonton but it was not enough to prevent the Oilers' Game 3 loss to Anaheim.

Sources

  1. Updated 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Bracket, Schedule and Top Highlights from April 24 (bleacherreport.com)
  2. Canadiens vs. Lightning Game 3: Key takeaways as Montreal wins in OT, takes 2-1 series lead - The Athletic (nytimes.com)

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