Stanley Cup playoffs daily: Previews, stats, schedule, bracketplayArda Öcal: Wild-Avs Game 1 ‘completely insane’ (0:59)Arda Öcal breaks down the thrilling 15-goal Game 1 between the Minnesota Wild and the Colorado Avalanche. (0:59)ESPN staffMay 5, 2026, 07:00 AM ETMultiple Authors
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Three of four second-round series in the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs have now begun, and following Tuesday night’s NHL draft lottery drawing, it’s Game 2 of Minnesota Wild-Colorado Avalanche.
There were 15 goals in Game 1 of the series — surely Game 2 will not be a repeat of that offensive onslaught, right?
Here’s what to watch in that contest, along with scores and highlights from Monday’s matchups, 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
Tuesday’s schedule
Minnesota Wild at Colorado Avalanche
Game 2, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN) | COL leads 1-0
In Stanley Cup playoff history, teams that win Game 1 of a best-of-seven series have gone on to win the series 68% of the time, including a 7-1 record in the first round of the 2026 postseason.
The Avs have a 23-13 series record after winning Game 1 of a playoff series; the Wild are 2-11 in series when they have fallen behind 1-0.
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The combined 15 goals the two teams scored in Game 1 is tied for the fifth most in a Stanley Cup playoff game in history, and the total is tied for second most in a Game 1, behind only the 1982 division semifinals between the Kings and Oilers (18).
Fourteen different players scored a goal, which has been equaled only once (1993 division semifinals between Kings and Flames) and bested once (15, in the ’82 game noted above).
Minnesota’s Quinn Hughes had a goal and two assists in Game 1, becoming the fifth defenseman in the past 25 years to record consecutive three-point games in the playoffs. He joins Cale Makar (2022), Brent Burns (2019), John Carlson (2018) and Kris Letang (2013).
Colorado’s Makar had his 11th career three-point playoff game Sunday, tying Peter Forsberg for the third most in franchise history behind Joe Sakic (18) and Nathan MacKinnon (16).
Kirill Kaprizov is the Wild’s franchise leader in playoff goals (17), and his 31 playoff points are tied with Jared Spurgeon for second most, behind Zach Parise’s 37.
MacKinnon has 132 career playoff points, which is the sixth most by a player in his first 100 playoff games; his total trails Wayne Gretzky (208), Mario Lemieux (168), Connor McDavid (154), Leon Draisaitl (148) and Jari Kurri (139).
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Arda Öcal: Wild-Avs Game 1 ‘completely insane’
Arda Öcal breaks down the thrilling 15-goal Game 1 between the Minnesota Wild and the Colorado Avalanche.
Monday’s scoreboard
Carolina Hurricanes 3, Philadelphia Flyers 2 (OT)
Hurricanes lead 2-0
After being blanked by the Canes in Game 1, the Flyers were primed for some backlash on Monday. Jamie Drysdale scored a power-play goal 4:02 into the first period, and Sean Couturier’s goal just 39 seconds later made it 2-0 Philly. Nikolaj Ehlers dropped the deficit in half at 10:21, and that’s how it stood through the first frame. After a scoreless second, Seth Jarvis got his first goal of the 2026 postseason to knot the score at 2-2 at 11:21 of third.
The two teams battled back and forth through overtime, before Taylor Hall scored his third tally of the postseason to send the Canes fans home happy. The series picks up with Game 3 on Thursday in Philadelphia. Full recap.
Vegas Golden Knights 3, Anaheim Ducks 1
Golden Knights lead 1-0
The Ducks and Golden Knights made it through a scoreless first period like two prize fighters feeling one another out in the early stages of a bout. Vegas’ Brett Howden opened the scoring at 3:14 of the second frame, with his fifth goal of the playoffs, and that’s how it stood until 13:57 of the third, when Mikael Granlund tied the score at one.
Then, controversy. After a controversial no-call, the Knights played on and Ivan Barbashev scored the eventual game-winning goal at 15:02. Mitch Marner added an empty-netter for good measure. Game 2 will be Wednesday in Vegas. Full recap.
Playoff scoring leaders
PlayerGPGAP1. Quinn Hughes, D, 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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