Stanley Cup Playoffs Tuesday Preview: Sabres One Win From First Series Since 2007, Ducks Aim to Close Out Oilers

After a two-game Monday night, the Stanley Cup playoffs are back with three contests on Tuesday -- including two potential elimination games. The Buffalo Sabres need one more victory to win their first series since 2007, while the Anaheim Ducks are looking to win their first since 2017. But the Boston Bruins and Edmonton Oilers, respectively, stand in their way. And in the middle game, it's Game 5 of arguably the best series of the first round, as the Dallas Stars host the Minnesota Wild with the series knotted at 2-2.

Here are previews and a best bet for Tuesday's games, scores and highlights from Monday's contests, and updated playoff stat leaders.

Tuesday's schedule

Boston Bruins at Buffalo Sabres Game 5, 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT) | BUF leads 3-1

In Stanley Cup playoff history, teams with a 3-1 series lead have won 91% of the time, with a 325-32 series record entering the 2026 postseason. Buffalo has never lost a series after going up 3-1 (7-0), and the Bruins have never won a series after trailing 1-3 (0-26). The Sabres' 10 third-period goals this series is tied for the second most in a playoff series in franchise history, trailing only the 1985 Adams Division semifinals against the Quebec Nordiques. Owen Power is the third defenseman in NHL history with an assist in each of his first four career playoff games, joining Ron Stackhouse (1975) and Joe Micheletti (1981). Fellow blueliner Bowen Byram is the third defenseman in Sabres history to score a goal in three straight games in a single postseason, joining Mike Ramsey (1983) and Ken Sutton (1993). Sean Kuraly was the Bruins' lone goal scorer in Game 4, notching his 10th career playoff goal and second career short-handed playoff goal. Prior to Game 4, Jeremy Swayman had a .931 save percentage this postseason, saving 94 of 101 shots on goal. After some defensive lapses in Game 4 led to six goals against, Swayman's postseason SV% is now .900.

Minnesota Wild at Dallas Stars Game 5, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN) | Series tied 2-2

In Stanley Cup playoff history, when a team wins Game 4 to tie a best-of-seven series 2-2, their record has been 150-151; when that victory took place at home, their record has been 77-100. The Stars have an 18-13 series record in matchups that began 2-2. They have a 13-4 series record when those series began at home. Wild forward Matt Boldy's overtime game winner in Game 4 was the first such goal of his career, and his second career playoff game-winning goal overall. Teammate Marcus Foligno scored the game-tying goal in the third period, which was the first game-tying playoff goal of his career. Jesper Wallstedt's 43 saves in Game 4 tied for the third most in a single game in Wild postseason history with Manny Fernandez (2003) and Josh Harding (2013). The Stars now have eight power-play goals this postseason, which is the most in the 2026 postseason field. It is tied for the second most through four games of a postseason series in Stars/North Stars history with 2008, and one behind 1991. Jason Robertson is riding a four-game goal-scoring streak and is just the second player in franchise history to record that long of a goal streak to begin a postseason. (Steve Payne in 1981 is the other.) Dallas' Miro Heiskanen now has 18 career playoff goals, extending his own franchise lead for career postseason goals by a defenseman. (Craig Hartsburg and Sergei Zubov are tied for second, at 15.)

Anaheim Ducks at Edmonton Oilers Game 5, 10 p.m. ET (TNT) | ANA leads 3-1

The Ducks have a 6-0 series record when they get out to a 3-1 lead; the Oilers have a 2-7 series record when they have started down 1-3. Their comeback wins were in the 1990 Smythe Division semifinals and the 1998 conference quarterfinals. Anaheim now has a 25-15 (.625) record in playoff overtime games, the second-best OT record in Stanley Cup playoff history behind the New York Islanders (41-24, .631). Ryan Poehling notched the OT winner in Game 4, which was the first OT game winner of his career (either regular season or playoffs). Jackson LaCombe has a playoff-leading eight points through four games, which is the second most through the first four games of a defenseman's career behind Joe Micheletti's nine in 1981. With two assists, Connor McDavid notched his 50th career multipoint playoff game, tying Glenn Anderson for the fourth most in Oilers history. Evan Bouchard also had a multipoint game, tying Paul Coffey for the most among defensemen in Oilers history, at 27. Game 4 was playoff game No. 100 in Ryan Nugent-Hopkins' career, and he scored a power-play goal. He is the third Oiler to score in his 100th career playoff game, joining Mark Messier (1987) and Chris Pronger (2006).

Tuesday's best bet

The bet: Ducks vs. Oilers, First period over 1.5 goals (-175)

This series has been a scoring bonanza from the jump, as all four games have finished over the closing total, and all four games have featured at least two first-period goals. In fact, all 12 periods of regulation hockey in this series have featured multiple goals scored, and this specific bet has hit in eight straight Ducks games. With Edmonton trailing 3-1 in the series and on their home ice, I expect them to lean into their offensive strength to try to extend the series. They should be pushing the pace to create advantages and chances, which of course, can also create offensive opportunities on the counter for Anaheim.

Monday's scoreboard

Pittsburgh Penguins 3, Philadelphia Flyers 2 Flyers lead 3-2

With no room for error, the Penguins jumped out to an early lead in front of a wild crowd, as Elmer Soderblom became the tallest Penguin to ever score in the playoffs (he's 6-7) to give Pittsburgh an early lead. Connor Dewar doubled it early in the second on a goal that at first was missed by the on-ice officials, but later confirmed. Alex Bump quickly answered for the Flyers, and Travis Sanheim scored the game-tying tally at 15:06 of the period. But just two minutes after that, Kris Letang scored one of the wackier goals of the 2026 postseason, as a weird bounce off the boards went in off of Flyers goalie Dan Vladar. The Penguins held on under a furious third-period Philly assault, and the series continues. Game 6 is Wednesday night in Philadelphia.

Vegas Golden Knights 5, Utah Mammoth 4 (OT) Series tied 2-2

The Knights came out like a team possessed to start, and notched one early goal (at 1:12, from Pavel Dorofeyev) and one late goal (at 18:38, from Brett Howden) to finish the first period up 2-0. Cole Smith's marker at 3:26 of the second made it 3-0. However, the Mammoth would rally in front of their home crowd, getting two goals back in the span of 29 seconds -- from Nick Schmaltz and Ian Cole -- before taking the lead in the third period thanks to tallies from Michael Carcone and Clayton Keller. They could not hold off the Knights, as Howden notched his second of the game at 10:25 of the third to knot the score. After a scoreless final 9:35 of regulation and nearly a full overtime session, Shea Theodore's goal at 19:08 sends the series back to Vegas tied at two games apiece. Game 5 is Wednesday.