Stanley Cup playoffs daily: Previews, stats, schedule, bracketESPN staffMay 11, 2026, 07:00 AM ETMultiple Authors
tamil yogi
The 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs have been one of the most exciting tournaments in recent memory, and that was certainly the case over a weekend that revealed our first conference finalist: the Carolina Hurricanes.
On the other half of the bracket, the Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild would both like to join the final four, but much work remains to be done. With the Avs up 2-1, the two clubs will square off in Monday’s lone game (8 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Here’s what to watch in that game, along with scores and highlights from Sunday’s pair of 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
Monday’s schedule
Colorado Avalanche at Minnesota Wild
Game 4, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN) | Avalanche lead 2-1
The Wild have now won six of their past eight Game 3s when facing a 2-1 series deficit. They have gone on to win one of those eight series — the 2014 first-round matchup against the Avalanche.
Minnesota’s 5-1 victory snapped Colorado’s six-game win streak, but that run tied the longest such streak in postseason history for the club (matched in 2021).
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Eight Wild goals this postseason have been scored by defensemen, the most in a single postseason in franchise history. Quinn Hughes and Brock Faber both have four goals this postseason, which has also set a franchise record for most by a single defenseman in a single postseason.
Kirill Kaprizov had his third three-point game of the postseason in Game 3, which is tied for the most in the 2026 playoffs with Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon. Kaprizov now has 35 career playoff points, two shy of Zach Parise for the franchise record.
MacKinnon has scored a goal in 45% (46/102) of his career playoff games, which is the fourth-highest rate in Stanley Cup playoff history behind Mario Lemieux (58/107, 54%), Mike Bossy (60/129, 47%) and Craig Simpson (31/67, 46%). He scored his 60th career playoff goal in his 102nd postseason game, which is tied for seventh fastest in NHL history to reach that mark, behind Lemieux (74), Wayne Gretzky (76), Brett Hull (81), Bossy (83), Jari Kurri (88) and Maurice Richard (92).
The Avalanche yanked Scott Wedgewood from Game 3 after he allowed three goals on 12 shots through 24:23 of game time. Mackenzie Blackwood allowed one goal on 13 shots in relief. Which member of the “Lumber Yard” will get the nod for Game 4 — and how long will the leash be?
Monday’s best bet
The bet: Jesper Wallstedt over 28.5 saves (-125)
Stopping 35 of 36 shots in Saturday’s much-needed 5-1 win over the Avalanche, the netminder clearly isn’t feeling rattled after taking a seat behind starter Filip Gustavsson in Game 2. Outside of giving up eight (yes, eight) to Colorado in a largely unhinged series opener, Wallstedt has been steady all postseason, particularly in his final three games against the Stars.
Combine that reliability with the Avs’ proclivity for shooting the puck on net — an average of 32.1 times per game — and the 29-save mark feels in reach. — Victoria Matiash
Sunday’s scoreboard
Montreal Canadiens 6, Buffalo Sabres 2
Canadiens lead 2-1
The Bell Centre crowd was electric, and despite a first-minute goal by Buffalo’s Tage Thompson, they would have much to celebrate on this night. Alex Newhook tied the score later in the first, and then the rest of the game was all Canadiens.
Cole Caufield, Zack Bolduc and Juraj Slafkovsky scored in succession in the second before Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin notched a power-play tally. That made the score 4-2 after the second, which was extended further by third-period goals from Kirby Dach and Newhook. The two teams will meet again in Montreal for Game 4 on Tuesday night. Full recap.
Anaheim Ducks 4, Vegas Golden Knights 3
Series tied 2-2
Across the continent from Sabres-Canadiens, the Ducks faithful were no less fired up in support of their team, and were rewarded with a back-and-forth tilt. Beckett Sennecke got the scoring party started at 8:43 of the first, which was matched by Pavel Dorofeyev less than two minutes later; Mikael Granlund would add another for the Ducks to make it 2-1 at the break. Brett Howden and Alex Killorn traded goals in the second, giving Anaheim a 3-2 edge heading into the third.
Anaheim’s Ian Moore scored an “insurance” goal to put the Ducks up 4-2, and the team would need that extra cushion, as Tomas Hertl scored his first of the 2026 postseason to pull the Knights within one. That was as close as they’d get, however, as the Ducks evened the series. Game 5 is back in Vegas on Tuesday. Full recap.
Playoff scoring leaders
PlayerGPGAP1. Mitch Marner, F, Golden Knights
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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