Sunday night marked a thrilling commencement to the NHL Eastern and Western Conference first-round playoff series, delivering intense matchups and unexpected outcomes. The Buffalo Sabres orchestrated a remarkable comeback to secure their initial playoff triumph in a decade and a half. Meanwhile, the Montreal Canadiens delivered a stunning overtime victory, and both the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights commenced their postseason campaigns with hard-fought wins.
NHL Playoff Opening Night Sees Sabres End Drought, Canadiens Deliver Upset
On Sunday night, April 19, 2026, the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York, bore witness to a historic comeback as the Buffalo Sabres defeated the Boston Bruins 4-3 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round series. Trailing 3-0 with just eight minutes remaining in the third period, Tage Thompson ignited the Sabres' dormant offense, netting two rapid goals to level the score. Mattias Samuelsson and Alex Tuch then propelled Buffalo to victory, marking the franchise's first playoff win in 15 years. Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was pivotal, making 17 saves to preserve the win. For the Bruins, David Pastrnak, Morgan Geekie, and Elias Lindholm contributed offensively, while Jeremy Swayman made 34 saves. Game 2 is set for Tuesday in Buffalo.
In another captivating Eastern Conference clash, the Montreal Canadiens stunned the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3 in overtime during Game 1. Juraj Slafkovsky sealed the win for Montreal 1:22 into the extra period with his third goal of the game. Josh Anderson also scored for the Canadiens, with Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki each tallying two assists. Rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes made 20 saves. The Lightning's goals came from Brandon Hagel (two) and Darren Raddysh, with Guentzel adding three assists and Nikita Kucherov two. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 15 of 19 shots for Tampa Bay.
Moving to the Western Conference, the Colorado Avalanche secured a tight 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings in Game 1 in Denver. Scott Wedgewood, in his inaugural Stanley Cup playoff start, made 24 crucial saves for Colorado. Artturi Lehkonen and Logan O'Connor scored for the Avalanche, who maintained a shutout until the Kings' Artemi Panarin scored with 2:22 left. Anton Forsberg, also making his playoff debut, stopped 28 shots for Los Angeles.
Finally, the Vegas Golden Knights staged a comeback of their own, overcoming the Utah Mammoth 4-2 in Game 1 of their Western Conference first-round series in Las Vegas. Nic Dowd scored the tie-breaking goal 7:20 into the third period, and Carter Hart made 31 saves for Vegas. Colton Sissons contributed a goal and an assist, while Noah Hanifin had two assists. Mark Stone and Ivan Barbashev also found the net for the Golden Knights, who have maintained an impressive 8-0-1 record since John Tortorella took over as head coach. Logan Cooley and Kevin Stenlund scored for Utah, which was playing its first playoff game in its two-season history. Karel Vejmelka made 27 saves.
The opening night of the NHL playoffs delivered an exhilarating display of grit, determination, and unexpected outcomes. From the Sabres' long-awaited triumph to the Canadiens' stunning upset, these games serve as a potent reminder of the unpredictable and captivating nature of postseason hockey. Each team's fight for victory, whether through dramatic comebacks or steadfast defense, underscores the intense competitive spirit inherent in the Stanley Cup playoffs. These early results not only set an exciting tone for the series ahead but also highlight the importance of resilience and seizing critical moments, inspiring both players and fans with the promise of more thrilling contests to come.
