Playoff Updates – Spherical One!

Comfortable Wednesday, Razzball trustworthy!

We’re blade deep within the first spherical of the NHL Playoffs, and hopefully your pool rosters and brackets are slotted neatly into the “to this point so good” territory.

The timing of the beginning of Spherical One was a bit unlucky, as some pairings weren’t finalized till after I wrote up our 2026 Fantasy Hockey Playoff Pool Evaluation (attempt saying that one 5 instances quick with a mouthful of ginger ale).

However guess what?! It’ll be a full report of the postseason dance companions right this moment!

I’ll have every First Spherical matchup with updates and check-ins on our gamers I discussed within the information. 

Meaning updates for all of the Should Have skaters, and any of the Definitely worth the Gamble or Beneath the Radar guys who want it.

Let’s go!

BUFFALO (A1) vs BOSTON (WC1)

Sequence tied 1-1.

I felt responsible for at all times main with the East, so I virtually put COL/LA right here first, however I can say it is a pure nod for Viz’s rooster wing, tailgater-king, seeking-out-their-first-bling squad towards my pure affinity for Fenway Pahk and caffeinated Dunkin’.

That is the collection I’ll be watching essentially the most. And, to be trustworthy, I type of hate that certainly one of these golf equipment will likely be out in just below two weeks.

Sport 1 was a Jeremy Swayman by 2.5 durations, because the Sabres doubled up on the Bruins’ photographs. Then, in a span of simply 8 minutes after the midpoint of the third interval, Tage Thompson lit the KeyBank Heart on hearth. 

Common readers will know my appreciation for all that’s Tage Thompson, so suffice it to say I had various psychological quick circuits in that third interval.

Sport 2 went a lot in a different way, and the Bs ran the desk for many of the night time. The excellent news is that they didn’t crumble once more and managed to shut it out with a 4-2 win.

Viz mentioned he was joyful to see the Sabres’ matchup towards Boston as an alternative of them enjoying Ottawa, and I instructed him I wished Boston to face Buffalo moderately than Carolina or Montreal, so certainly one of us goes to be proper. Sadly, meaning certainly one of us will likely be mistaken, too.

I’ve Boston in 6. If the Bruins can play a full 60 minutes as an alternative of fifty as they did within the first two video games, the collection may not be as shut because it has been after they go away Massachusetts after Sport 4.

TAMPA (A2) vs MONTREAL (A3)

Sequence tied 1-1.

“USA USA USA?” Uh…extra like “SLA, SLA, SLA”. Like SLAfkovsky! Increase! Excessive 5 me!

However…don’t high-five Slafkovsky. As a result of one forceful hand movement may imply sleepytime if Sport 2’s dance with Brandon Hagel is any indication of any future balance-challenged interactions.

HAGEL AND SLAFKOVSKY DROP THE GLOVES AND HAGEL DROPS SLAF WITH A SINGLE RIGHT 😱👊 pic.twitter.com/fuTEJTspLb

— Gino Arduous (@GinoHard_) April 22, 2026

As Viz mentioned, this collection is an fascinating one with two high-octane offenses dealing with off. I mentioned it in regards to the earlier collection, and it’s the identical story right here; the truth that certainly one of these two groups will likely be out earlier than the puck drops in Spherical 2 is a ridiculous loss. However, hey, we get these super-important first-round geographic rivalries like Quebec and Florida, proper, Gary Bettman? Smh.

Properly, the USA chants backfired on the Tampa followers in Sport 1’s OT loss, however the ultimate in Sport 2 tilted the appropriate manner for Bolts followers. A 3-2 OT win evens up the collection earlier than the fellows head up north to Montreal for Video games 3 and 4.

That mentioned, I did take Montreal in 6 video games.

CAROLINA (M1) vs OTTAWA (WC2)

Carolina leads 2-0.

I don’t know in case you noticed the viral Senators track that some followers put collectively. I’ll prevent the difficulty of looking for it.

In search of a hockey model of the Tremendous Bowl Shuffle? Properly, this isn’t that. However it’s a Slim Shady-inspired “track” from Ottawa Senators followers… so unhealthy it should be consumed. pic.twitter.com/0lYmujBBE6

— Damon Amendolara (@DamonAmendo) April 18, 2026

The excellent news is the Sens aren’t as unhealthy as something in that video. The unhealthy information? They weren’t a lot better. Even the premeditated scrap between Jordan Staal and Brady Tkachuk in the beginning of Sport 1 didn’t go their manner.

The Canes didn’t precisely blow by Ottawa within the first two video games, but when the Sens get pushed out with out successful a few video games, I count on Ullmark to get as a lot blame as Tkachuk will, despite the fact that the OT loss in Sport 2 wasn’t his fault (he confronted 49 photographs).

Oh, and in case you’re questioning if I spelled “Jason” Blake mistaken there after I typed Jackson, don’t overlook to take your outdated of us’ drugs (sure, that’s his dad).

Carolina in 5.

PITTSBURGH (M2) vs PHILADELPHIA (M3)

Philly leads 2-0.

I assumed the Penguins would roll proper by the Flyers in 4 video games, so it is a fairly huge flub. Then once more, I wasn’t about to place Rasmus Ristolainen and Christian Dvorak within the “Should Have” draft part in final week’s information, so take this for what it’s.

Sid is again, however wasn’t a part of the scoring in both of the primary two video games. I’m guessing he’ll be able to kick it up a notch tomorrow in Sport 3 (7:00 PM ET). Malkin selecting up the slack wasn’t a shock, however the Pens will want each of their stars to drive the offense, or they’ll find yourself in a giant gap by Thursday morning.

This collection is a giant whiff by me already. I had Pittsburgh in 4. (Sorry, Dan Vladar).

Now for the West!

COLORADO (C1) vs LOS ANGELES (WC2)

Colorado leads 1-0 (ultimate edit earlier than the tip of Sport 2).

The Western Convention goes to be fairly clear (exterior of the MIN/DAL collection). The Kings made it a detailed recreation in Sport 1 (2-1 COL), and have been enjoying tight by the primary intermission in Sport 2 final night time as effectively.

I feel LA takes one recreation within the collection, however isn’t robust sufficient to carry off the waves of strain from the Avs all through the collection. Colorado in 5.

DALLAS (C2) vs MINNESOTA (C3)

Sequence tied 1-1.

Two video games within the books on this collection, and it’s going simply as quite a lot of us predicted. The firepower is on full show with 13 targets scored (whole) to this point. Heading into final night time’s video games, our prime two playoff scorers have been Eriksson Ek and Kaprizov. I assume we’re going to 7 video games with this collection, so there ought to be loads of time for the highest scorers so as to add to their totals.

I’m joyful to see Wyatt Johnston on the checklist, and Brock Faber’s playoff coming-out celebration is off to a very good begin, too. Matt Duchene with a few factors means Don Cherry is smiling someplace.

When you’re enjoying any DFS nights, I’d test on guys like Heiskanen and Duchene as cheaper-priced provides.

It’s shut sufficient that I’ve Dallas in 7 within the Razzball bracket Problem, however Minnesota in 7 in all of my different playoff (workforce) swimming pools.

VEGAS (P1) vs UTAH (WC1)

Vegas leads 1-0 (ultimate edit earlier than the tip of Sport 2).

Mark Stone is again to being a power-play risk, and Marner and Eichel are beginning to chip in helpers. The Mammoth have a very cool Zamboni, however I don’t know if they’ve sufficient protection (and offense) to decelerate the Knights and put up any actual risk of an upset.

I didn’t give Utah sufficient credit score, however I did say they’ll win one recreation. Vegas in 5 was my decide.

EDMONTON (P2) vs ANAHEIM (P3)

Edmonton leads 1-0.

Ah, there we go. Troy Terry and Jason Dickinson are main the scoring on this collection, simply as we anticipated. 

I’m going to imagine that Oilers followers don’t care who’s scoring, so long as their German juggernaut, Leon Draisaitl, is wholesome. Edmonton mentioned all alongside that he’d be again for Sport 1, and it seems to be just like the LTIR considerations (lower-body) are a factor of the previous. 

It’s good to see my “Beneath-the-radar” guys placing up some numbers. And the resurrection of Leo Carlsson is a welcome sight for Geese followers.

I’d’ve appreciated to have given Anaheim one win right here, however I didn’t. Edmonton in 4.

That’s all for this week! I’ll be again subsequent Wednesday with playoff information, numbers, and notes heading into Spherical 2. You probably have any questions or feedback, go away them under, and I’ll get again to you ASAP.  Viz will likely be again on Friday.

Comfortable Wednesday, and I’ll see you subsequent week!

Comply with me @marmosdad on Twitter/X and Bluesky @marmosdad.bsky.social