Quinn Hughes helped the Wild earn their first series win since 2015 and advance to the Second Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, where they’ll meet the Avalanche. Hughes is set to face fellow decorated defenseman Cale Makar in the postseason for the first time.
* Cutter Gauthier scored the series-clinching goal and helped Anaheim advance to the Second Round for the first time since 2017 as it now awaits the winner of the Utah-Vegas series.
* Friday’s schedule features the Lightning, Bruins and Mammoth all looking to force a Game 7 in their First Round series.
* The 2026 NHL Draft Lottery Interactive Information Guide is now available on the League’s Media site. The event will be conducted at NHL Network’s Secaucus, N.J., studio on May 5.
Hughes has clinching goal, three points as Wild win first series since 2015
Quinn Hughes (2-1—3) had the go-ahead goal with 9:22 remaining in regulation and Matt Boldy buried two empty-netters as the Wild snapped a lengthy losing streak in opening-round series by winning their first since a six-game victory versus the Blues during the 2015 First Round.
* Hughes tied the franchise record for most points in a potential closeout contest and became the first defenseman in club history with a series-clinching goal. Forwards Justin Fontaine (Game 6 of 2015 R1), Nino Niederreiter (Game 7 of 2014 R1), Darby Hendrickson (Game 7 of 2003 CSF) and Andrew Brunette (Game 7 of 2003 CQF) account for the other four.
* Hughes was traded to the Wild from the Canucks in a blockbuster deal on Dec. 12, 2025. Other notable instances of defensemen acquired mid-season with a clinching goal in the first series with their new team include Tampa Bay’s Braydon Coburn (Game 7 of 2015 R1), Philadelphia’s Danny Markov (Game 5 of 2004 CQF), Edmonton’s Janne Niinimaa (Game 7 of 1998 CQF) and Pittsburgh’s Norm MacIver (Game 7 of 1995 CQF).
* The Wild and Avalanche will play their fourth head-to-head playoff series following seven-game wins by Minnesota in the 2014 First Round and 2003 Conference Quarterfinals as well as a six-game victory by Colorado during the 2008 Conference Quarterfinals. Jared Spurgeon capped the last series by scoring the tying tally with 2:27 remaining in regulation before Niederreiter’s overtime clincher in Game 7.
* Hughes and Cale Makar are set to play the fifth series in NHL history involving James Norris Memorial Trophy winners from each of the last two seasons pitted against each other. The others featured Detroit and Anaheim (Nicklas Lidstrom & Scott Niedermayer in 2007 CF), Detroit and St. Louis (Lidstrom & Chris Pronger in 2002 CSF), Montreal and Boston (Chris Chelios & Ray Bourque in 1990 DF) as well as Montreal and Detroit (Doug Harvey & Red Kelly in 1956 SCF).
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DUCKS ADVANCE TO SECOND ROUND, WIN FIRST PLAYOFF SERIES SINCE 2017
The Ducks got out to an early 3-1 lead in the first period and never looked back as they defeated the Oilers in six games and advanced to the Second Round, where they’ll face the winner of the Mammoth-Golden Knights series.
* Among franchises to end a playoff drought of five or more consecutive years, Anaheim became the fourth team to eliminate a Stanley Cup champion or Stanley Cup finalist. The others: 2019 Hurricanes (R1 vs. WSH), 2017 Oilers (R1 vs. SJS) and 1995 Flyers (CSF vs. NYR).
* Cutter Gauthier (1-1—2) recorded both of his points in the first period and his goal served as the series-deciding tally. Gauthier (22 years, 101 days) became the third-youngest player in Ducks history to score a series-clinching goal, behind only Nick Ritchie (21 years, 156 days in 2017 R2) and Ryan Getzlaf (21 years, 344 days in 2007 CQF).
* Jackson LaCombe (0-1—1) boosted his totals to 1-8—9 to begin his playoff career and established a Ducks record for assists and points by a defenseman in a playoff series. He also became the franchise’s third defenseman to be the team’s outright leader in points for a playoff series, following Sami Vatanen (1-4—5 in 2017 CF) and Chris Pronger (2-4—6 in 2007 CQF).
2025-26 LADY BYNG FINALISTS ANNOUNCED
Cole Caufield, Anze Kopitar and Jake Sanderson are the three finalists for the 2025-26 Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, awarded “to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.” Click here for the full details.
QUICK CLICKS
* #NHLStats: Live Updates – April 30, 2026
* NHL announces Flyers-Hurricanes series will start tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET
* King Clancy nominee Jordan Harris of Bruins opens pathways for youth hockey players
* Flyers players Trevor Zegras, Cam York ring bell, fire up fans at 76ers game
* Marc-Andre Fleury, his kids hype Wild fans before Game 6 of Western Conference 1st Round
GAME 7 ON THE HORIZON FOR LIGHTNING, BRUINS AND MAMMOTH?
Three games are on tap Friday with each of the Lightning, Bruins and Mammoth looking to avoid elimination and force Game 7 in their respective First Round series against the Canadiens, Sabres and Golden Knights. Teams have combined for four wins to stave off elimination in the 2026 First Round – each opening round since 2021 has featured at least six (most: 11 in 2022 R1).
* Tampa Bay is looking to force a Game 7 for the sixth time in franchise history, following the 2022 First Round, 2015 First Round, 2011 Conference Finals, 2011 Conference Quarterfinals and 2004 Stanley Cup Final. The Lightning have won the series in each scenario except one (2011 CF). Overall, the franchise is 16-14 (.533) in 30 all-time potential elimination games – the second-highest winning percentage in Stanley Cup Playoffs history (min. 5 GP), behind only the Islanders (32-25; .561).
* Boston can force Game 7 after overcoming a 3-1 series deficit for the third time in franchise history (2009 CSF & 2008 CQF) and looks to win a series in that scenario for the first time. David Pastrnak has scored seven goals in his career during Games 6 and 7 and can join Brad Marchand (10), Milan Lucic (10) and David Krejci (9) as the fourth Bruins player with eight or more goals in that scenario.
* The Mammoth can become the 11th franchise in NHL history to require a Game 7 in their first-ever playoff series and second in as many instances, following the Kraken (2023 R1). Seattle has accounted for one of six times a club has won its first-ever series in a Game 7.
