Puck Drops on NHL Playoffs Round 2; Flyers–Hurricanes Game 1 Set for Raleigh
Four games during the 2025–2026 NHL regular season between the Philadelphia Flyers and Carolina Hurricanes went into overtime, and three to a shootout.
Quinn Hughes (43) of the Minnesota Wild celebrates a goal during the third period against the Dallas Stars in Game Six of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Grand Casino Arena in St Paul, Minn., on April 30, 2026. David Berding/Getty Images
Come this weekend, fewer NHL teams will be skating in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Two pairings are planned for Round 2 of the playoffs, before the puck drops on Friday night’s games. In the Western Conference, the Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild will be skating for the right to appear in the Conference Final.
Don has covered pro baseball for several decades, beginning in the minor leagues as a radio broadcaster in the NY Mets organization. His Ice Chips & Diamond Dust blog ran from 2012-2020 at uticaod.com. His baseball passion surrounds anything concerning the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and writing features on the players and staff of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Don currently resides in southwest Florida.
