Stanley Cup playoffs daily: Previews, stats, schedule, bracketplayTkachuk tells McAfee: The NHL playoffs have been unreal so far (1:06)Matthew Tkachuk joins “The Pat McAfee Show” and describes how electric the NHL playoffs have been so far, especially after the Winter Games. (1:06)ESPN staffMay 8, 2026, 07:00 AM ETMultiple Authors
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We’re into the middle section of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs. The conference finals are getting closer for some teams — while an early start to the offseason approaches for others.
After just one game on the schedule Thursday, it’s another doubleheader Friday. The Montreal Canadiens look to knot their series with the Buffalo Sabres at one game apiece, and the Anaheim Ducks and Vegas Golden Knights are fighting for a 2-1 series lead in a pivotal Game 3.
Here’s what to watch — and a best bet — for Friday’s games, along with scores and highlights from Thursday’s contests, and updated playoff stat leaders.
Read more:
Full schedule
Playoff Central
Stanley Cup odds
Conn Smythe Watch
Second-round picks
Offseason guide for eliminated teams
Friday’s schedule
Montreal Canadiens at Buffalo Sabres
Game 2, 7 p.m. ET (TNT) | BUF leads 1-0
Teams that win Game 1 of a best-of-seven series have a 542-253 series record in Stanley Cup playoff history.
The Sabres have a 15-11 series record when winning Game 1 of a seven-game series and are 9-3 when winning Game 1 at home.
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The Canadiens have lost eight of their last nine best-of-seven series in which they trailed 0-1; their only series win in that span was the 2021 Stanley Cup semifinals against the Golden Knights.
Buffalo had just one power-play goal since the beginning of April through the end of its first-round series. The Sabres scored two in Game 1.
Bowen Byram scored his fourth goal of the postseason, tying the Sabres record for most goals by a defenseman in a single postseason; the others atop the list are Jason Woolley (1999), Alexei Zhitnik (1999) and Mike Ramsey (1983).
Teammate Zach Benson had two assists in Game 1, becoming the fourth Sabre with consecutive multipoint playoff games at age 20 or younger; the others who have achieved that feat are Alan Haworth (1981), John Tucker (1985) and Pierre Turgeon (1989).
Montreal’s Nick Suzuki scored his second goal of the postseason in Game 1 and has points in all five of the team’s road games this postseason. He is the second Canadien in the past 25 years to do so, joining Scott Gomez (2010).
The four goals allowed by Montreal’s Jakub Dobes in Game 1 were his most since his final start of the regular season (April 14).
Vegas Golden Knights at Anaheim Ducks
Game 3, 9:30 p.m. ET (TNT) | Series tied 1-1
The Ducks have now won Game 2 in each of their last five instances of falling behind 0-1 on the road in a seven-game series.
On the other side, the Golden Knights have now lost Game 2 in each of their last four best-of-seven series.
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Though he missed getting a shutout in Game 2, Lukas Dostal’s one-goal-against performance was his fewest goals allowed this postseason.
Teammate Beckett Sennecke scored his second goal this postseason, becoming the first Ducks rookie with multiple goals in a single postseason since Shea Theodore in 2017; Theodore now plays for Vegas.
Leo Carlsson scored his second game-winning goal of the 2026 playoffs, joining Ryan Getzlaf (2007) and Nick Ritchie (2017) as the only Ducks skaters age 21 or younger with multiple game-winning goals in a single playoff run.
Brett Howden failed to score in Game 2, snapping a four-game goal streak. In doing so, his streak remains in a three-way tie for longest in Knights franchise history with Jonathan Marchessault (2019 and 2023) and Alex Tuch (2020).
Despite the loss, Vegas goalie Carter Hart now has a .912 save percentage this postseason, well ahead of the .891 rate he registered in the regular season and better than any of his seasonlong marks in the stat since 2019-20 (.914).
Friday’s best bet
The bet: Canadiens moneyline (+114)
The Canadiens finally had their streak of covering 31 straight games on the puck line as an underdog snapped in their 4-2 loss in Game 1. It was a legendary run, but it’s time to start another one. Not only do I like the Habs to cover the puck line (-225), I really like the value on them to even up the series at 1-1 going back to Montreal.
Buffalo also won Game 1 of their first-round series against Boston. What happened in Game 2? The Bruins responded with a 4-2 win, and I see it playing out similarly against Montreal. The Canadiens haven’t lost back-to-back games since mid-March, and they’ve even won 10 in a row outright as an underdog coming off a road loss. I like that trend to continue in Game 2 at Buffalo. — Tyler Fulghum
1:23
Gary Bettman: Current NHL playoff format works well
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman joins “The Pat McAfee Show” to discuss the current format of the NHL postseason.
Thursday’s scoreboard
Carolina Hurricanes at Philadelphia Flyers
Hurricanes lead 3-0
Like facing down an actual hurricane in reality, Carolina’s opponents this postseason have been no match for the relentless force of the Canes. That was on display again Thursday night, from Jordan Staal’s incredible effort on the game’s first goal, through an equally impressive effort on Jalen Chatfield’s shorthanded tally to retake the lead in the second, and on superbly placed lasers from Andrei Svechnikov and Nikolaj Ehlers to put the game away in the third
The Canes are now one game away from a consecutive sweep to begin the 2026 playoffs. Game 4 is Saturday, once again in Philly. Full recap.
Playoff scoring leaders
PlayerGPGAPT-1. Kirill Kaprizov, F, Wild
Click here for full list of stats leaders.
Playoff goaltending leaders
PlayerGPWGAASV%1. Frederik Andersen, Hurricanes
Click here for the full list of goaltender stats.
Stanley Cup playoff bracket
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