Buffalo Sabre right wing Alex Tuch (89) celebrates his goal with teammates as the Boston Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm (27) skates by in game 3 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Boston Garden on Thu Apr 23, 2026 (AP News photo)

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast Len Shapiro:

#1 Bowen Byram scored just after the Boston Bruins missed a penalty shot and the Buffalo Sabres Alex Tuch helped the Sabres erase a deficit and beat the Bruins 3-1 on Thursday night to take a 2-1 series lead in round one of the NHL Playoffs.

#2 Alex Lyon stopped 24 shots for the Sabres and it’s Lyon’s first start in post season. The Sabres also ended a NHL 14 year drought by making post season and winning the Atlantic Division and the Sabres got home ice advantage in this best of seven series.

#3 Jackson Blake broke a 1-1 deadlock in the second period with a goal that helped the Carolina Hurricane edge the Ottawa Senators 2-1 and take a 3-0 series lead in the first round. The Hurricane also got goaltending help from Frederik Andersen who stopped 21 shots.

#4 Len, the Hurricane can finish off the Senators with a four game sweep and advance to the second round of the playoffs this Saturday in Ottawa.

#5 The Colorado Avalanche scored two key goals in the second period to beat the Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena for a 4-2 win and take a 3-0 series lead over the Kings.

#6 The Avalanche earlier had a one goal lead over the Kings the Kings pulled within a goal of the Avalanche 3-2 but the Avalanche got an insurance goal and it was a keeper for the 4-2 win.

Len Shapiro does the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com