Overview
- The first round, which resumes Monday with three Game 2s and Anaheim–Edmonton Game 1, airs on ESPN and TNT/truTV/HBO Max in the U.S. and on Sportsnet/TVAS/CBC in Canada.
- Opening-weekend results included Carolina’s 2-0 win over Ottawa, Minnesota’s 6-1 rout of Dallas, Philadelphia’s 3-2 win at Pittsburgh, Montreal’s overtime win at Tampa Bay, and Buffalo’s late rally past Boston.
- BetOnline moved several series prices after the weekend, with Colorado −1150 over Los Angeles and Montreal’s Stanley Cup odds shortening from 25/1 to 14/1.
- Standout Game 1 efforts featured Juraj Slafkovsky’s hat trick for Montreal, Matt Boldy’s two goals and an assist for Minnesota, and a Frederik Andersen shutout backed by Logan Stankoven and Taylor Hall for Carolina.
- Anaheim returns to the postseason for the first time since 2018 to face Edmonton, which reached the last two Stanley Cup Finals.