The Colorado Avalanche [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche] and Carolina Hurricanes [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/carolina-hurricanes] took commanding playoff series leads on Thursday, while the Buffalo Sabres [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/buffalo-sabres] got an important win on the road. Three games are on the schedule for Friday's NHL action, and all of them will see a squad take a 2-1 lead in their first-round series. And the Utah Mammoth [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/utah] will host their first Stanley Cup playoff game ever. Here are series updates, odds for the next game in each matchup from BetMGM [https://sports.betmgm.ca/en/blog/league/nhl/?utm_source=thehockeynews&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=nhl_blog_page], leading scorers in the early stages of the playoffs and the schedule for Friday. APRIL 24 NHL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE Times are listed in eastern time. Game 3: Tampa Bay at Montreal, Friday, April 24, 7 p.m. (SN, CBC, TVAS, TNT, truTV, HBO Max) Game 3: Vegas at Utah, Friday, April 24, 9:30 p.m. (TBS, HBO Max, SN360, TVAS) Game 3: Edmonton at Anaheim, Friday, April 24, 10 p.m. (TNT, truTV, HBO Max, SN, CBC, TVAS) NHL Playoffs 2026 First-Round Schedule: Dates, Times, Where To Watch [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/779c0789-1a42-4ac0-a207-26a0a56d0e5b.jpeg] NHL Playoffs 2026 First-Round Schedule: Dates, Times, Where To Watch The Stanley Cup playoffs begin on April 18 as the NHL announced the dates for every first-round series. Here's when and how to watch them. [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/nhl-playoffs-2026-first-round-schedule-dates-times-where-to-watch] CAROLINA HURRICANES (M1) VS. OTTAWA SENATORS (WC2) Carolina leads 3-0 Game 1: Ottawa 0, Carolina 2 Game 2: Ottawa 2, Carolina 3 (2OT) Game 3: Carolina 2, Ottawa 1 Game 4 odds on BetMGM [https://betmgmsporton.onelink.me/otUl/4rkbpwij]: Carolina (1.91/-110), Ottawa (1.91/-110) - Ottawa Senators' Best Defenseman Leaves Game 3 Following A Headshot And A Shot Block [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/ottawa-senators-best-defenseman-leaves-game-3-following-a-headshot-and-a-shot-block] - 'We're Feeling Good': Jackson Blake, Logan Stankoven, Taylor Hall, Frederik Andersen, Jaccob Slavin, Rod Brind'Amour On Game 3 Win [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/carolina-hurricanes/game-day/were-feeling-good-jackson-blake-logan-stankoven-taylor-hall-frederik-andersen-jaccob-slavin-rod-brindamour-on-game-3-win] - Senators Lose Game 3 (And Jake Sanderson), Now On Brink Of Being Swept By Carolina [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/ottawa-senators/latest-news/senators-lose-game-3-and-jake-sanderson-now-on-brink-of-being-swept-by-carolina] PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (M2) VS. PHILADELPHIA FLYERS (M3) Philadelphia leads 3-0 Game 1: Philadelphia 3, Pittsburgh 2 Game 2: Philadelphia 3, Pittsburgh 0 Game 3: Pittsburgh 2, Philadelphia 5 Game 4 odds on BetMGM [https://betmgmsporton.onelink.me/otUl/4rkbpwij]: Pittsburgh (2.00/+100), Philadelphia (1.83/-120) - Old-Time Flyers Hockey Rocks Philadelphia: 'The Crowd Went Bananas' [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/old-time-flyers-hockey-rocks-philadelphia-the-crowd-went-bananas] - Penguins' Strong Start Goes Sideways As Flyers Take Commanding 3-0 Series Lead [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/game-day/takeaways-penguins-strong-start-goes-sideways-as-flyers-take-commanding-3-0-series-lead] - Dan Vladar Injury Update: Flyers Goalie 'Feels Better' [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/latest-news/dan-vladar-injury-update-flyers-goalie-feels-better] BUFFALO SABRES (A1) VS. BOSTON BRUINS (WC1) Buffalo leads 2-1 Game 1: Boston 3, Buffalo 4 Game 2: Boston 4, Buffalo 2 Game 3: Buffalo 3, Boston 1 Game 4 odds on BetMGM [https://betmgmsporton.onelink.me/otUl/4rkbpwij]: Buffalo (1.95/-105), Boston (1.87/-115) - Should Colton Parayko Regret Declining A Trade To The Buffalo Sabres? [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/should-colton-parayko-regret-declining-a-trade-to-the-buffalo-sabres] - Boston's One Major Error Cost Them Game 3 [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/boston-bruins/latest-news/bostons-one-major-error-cost-them-game-3] - The Sabres' First Home Playoff Game Absolutely Lived Up To The Hype In Win Over Bruins [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/the-sabres-first-home-playoff-game-absolutely-lived-up-to-the-buildup] TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (A2) VS. MONTREAL CANADIENS (A3) Series tied 1-1 Game 1: Montreal 4, Tampa Bay 3 (OT) Game 2: Montreal 2, Tampa Bay 3 (OT) Game 3 odds on BetMGM [https://betmgmsporton.onelink.me/otUl/4rkbpwij]: Tampa Bay (1.83/-110), Montreal (2.00/+100) - 'Somebody's Got To Be The Villain': Why The Lightning Believe They Can Bully Their Way To A Stanley Cup [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/somebodys-got-to-be-the-villain-why-the-lightning-believe-they-can-bully-their-way-to-a-stanley-cup] - Canadiens: Time For A Big Dose Of Experience? [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/latest-news/canadiens-time-for-a-big-dose-of-experience] - Lightning Set For Game 3 In Montreal As Series Shifts To Bell Centre [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/tampa-bay-lightning/latest-news/lightning-set-for-game-3-in-montreal-as-series-shifts-to-bell-centre] COLORADO AVALANCHE (C1) VS. LOS ANGELES KINGS (WC2) Colorado leads 3-0 Game 1: Los Angeles 1, Colorado 2 Game 2: Los Angeles 1, Colorado 2 (OT) Game 3: Colorado 4, Los Angeles 2 Game 4 odds on BetMGM [https://betmgmsporton.onelink.me/otUl/4rkbpwij]: Colorado (1.59/-170), Los Angeles (2.40/+140) - Colorado Surges In Game 3 Win [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche/latest-news/game-blog-colorado-avalanche-v-los-angeles-kings-game-3] - Kings Fall Into 3-0 Hole In Game 3 Loss To Avalanche, Face Elimination [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings/latest-news/kings-fall-into-3-0-hole-after-game-3-loss-to-avalanche] - Why The 2026 Colorado Avalanche Look Ready To Break The Presidents' Trophy Curse [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/why-the-2026-colorado-avalanche-look-ready-to-break-the-presidents-trophy-curse] DALLAS STARS (C2) VS. MINNESOTA WILD (C3) Dallas leads 2-1 Game 1: Minnesota 6, Dallas 1 Game 2: Minnesota 2, Dallas 4 Game 3: Dallas 4, Minnesota 3 (2OT) Game 4 odds on BetMGM [https://betmgmsporton.onelink.me/otUl/4rkbpwij]: Dallas (2.10/+110), Minnesota (1.75/-133) - NHL's Top Power-Play Scorer Strikes Again In The Clutch [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/nhls-top-power-play-scorer-strikes-again-in-the-clutch] - Wild Let Special Teams Slip And The Series Is Slipping With It [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/minnesota-wild/latest-news/wild-let-special-teams-slip-and-the-series-is-slipping-with-it] - Stars Break Wild Hearts in Double OT Thriller [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/dallas-stars/latest-news/stars-break-wild-hearts-in-double-ot-thriller] VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS (P1) VS. UTAH MAMMOTH (WC1) Series tied 1-1 Game 1: Utah 2, Vegas 4 Game 2: Utah 3, Vegas 2 Game 3 odds on BetMGM [https://betmgmsporton.onelink.me/otUl/4rkbpwij]: Vegas (1.91/-110), Utah (1.91/-110) - Carter Hart's Early Post-Season Success With The Golden Knights Is A Product Of Familiarity With John Tortorella [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/carter-harts-early-post-season-success-with-the-golden-knights-is-a-product-of-familiarity-with-john-tortorella] - Utah Vs. Vegas Turns Personal As Mammoth Launch Jersey Exchange For Fans [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/utah/latest-news/utah-vs-vegas-turns-personal-as-mammoth-launch-jersey-exchange-for-fans] - Which Three Knights Need To Step Up In Salt Lake City? [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vegas-golden-knights/latest-news/which-three-knights-need-to-step-up-in-salt-lake-city] EDMONTON OILERS (P2) VS. ANAHEIM DUCKS (P3) Series tied 1-1 Game 1: Anaheim 3, Edmonton 4 Game 2: Anaheim 6, Edmonton 4 Game 3 odds on BetMGM [https://betmgmsporton.onelink.me/otUl/4rkbpwij]: Edmonton (1.75/-133), Anaheim (2.10/+110) - The Anaheim Ducks Solve Oilers' Connor McDavid – For Now [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/the-anaheim-ducks-solve-oilers-connor-mcdavid-for-now] - Joel Quenneville's Cheeky Lineup Adjustment Pays Off [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/latest-news/joel-quennevilles-cheeky-lineup-adjustment-pays-off] - Kris Knoblauch Offers Injury Updates On McDavid, Dickinson And Henrique [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/kris-knoblauch-offers-injury-updates-on-mcdavid-dickinson-and-henrique] LEADING SCORERS T-1. David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins: 5 points, 3 games T-1. Joel Eriksson Ek, Minnesota Wild: 5 points, 3 games T-1. Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars: 5 points, 3 games T-1: Wyatt Johnston, Dallas Stars: 5 points, 3 games T-1: Matt Duchene, Dallas Stars: 5 points, 3 games T-1: Taylor Hall, Carolina Hurricanes: 5 points, 3 games Image [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/ceade378-2d1b-4f5b-9427-fb5dc159b112.jpeg] For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free [https://thehockeynews.store/products/print-subscription?_gl=1*vxgsh8*_ga*NjkyMzUxMy4xNjYzNjIwMzQ3*_ga_ZET34ZFCGX*czE3NzYzNDk1ODUkbzMzNzkkZzEkdDE3NzYzNTcyNzAkajE4JGwwJGgw]. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here [http://eepurl.com/i7OC4I]. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
