News and Notes from Saturday, April 18th, 2026
News
- The Winnipeg Jets announced that they have re-signed forward Cole Koepke.
- Koepke would sign a 2 year extension that will carry an AAV of $1.45 million per season.
Jersey Tracking and Mini Recaps
New York Sirens v. Ottawa Charge – 2p ET (PWHL)
- In Ottawa for PWHL action, the Charge would play host to the New York Sirens, and in the first period, Paetyn Levis would score on the powerplay to give the Sirens the 1-0 lead, but Rebecca Leslie would score to tie the game at one for the Charge. In the second period, Jocelyne Larocque and Peyton Hemp would both score shorthanded goals to give the Charge the 3-1 lead. Then in the third period, Ronja Savolainen and Brianne Jenner (PPG) would score to give the Charge the dominate 5-1 victory over the Sirens.
Ottawa Senators v. Carolina Hurricanes – 3p ET – Game 1
- In Carolina, the Ottawa Senators would come to town to battle the Hurricanes in Game 1 of their Stanley Cup First Round matchup, and after a scoreless first period, but eventful start as Jordan Staal and Brady Tkachuk would drop the gloves 3 seconds into the game, Logan Stankoven would open the scoring for the Hurricanes to take the 1-0 lead. Then in the third period, Taylor Hall would score to give the Hurricanes the 2-0 victory over the Senators. Frederik Andersen would stop all 22 shots faced to earn the shutout for the Hurricanes to take Game 1.
Vancouver Goldeneyes v. Seattle Torrent – 5p ET (PWHL)
- In Seattle for the other game in the PWHL, the Torrent would play host to the Vancouver Goldeneyes, and in the first period, Hilary Knight and Anna Wilgren would score for the Torrent to take the 2-0 lead. In the second period, Jenn Gardiner would score to get the Goldeneyes on the board and back within one. Then in the third period, things would get electrifying as Hannah Miller and Gardiner would score to give the Goldeneyes the 3-2 lead, but goals from Cayla Barnes, Wilgren, and Danielle Serdachny (ENG) would score to give the Torrent the 5-3 lead. However in the final two minutes of regulation, Gardiner would score once again to complete the hat trick and Miller would score her second of the game to tie the game at 5 for the Goldeneyes to force overtime. In the extra frame, Gardiner would score her fourth goal of the game to give the Goldeneyes the 6-5 overtime victory over the Torrent. Gardiner would become the first player in PWHL history to score 4 goals in a game.
Minnesota Wild v. Dallas Stars – 530p ET – Game 1
- In Dallas for Game 1 of their First Round matchup, the Stars would rock their 1999 inspired alternates as they host the Minnesota Wild, who disappointingly didn’t wear their 25th Anniversary jerseys, and in the first period, Joel Eriksson Ek would score on the powerplay to give the Wild the 1-0 lead. In the second period, Kirill Kaprizov, Ryan Hartman, and Matt Boldy would score to give the Wild the 4 goal lead, but Jason Robertson would strike on the powerplay to get the Stars on the board. Then in the third period, Eriksson Ek would score his second powerplay goal of the game and Boldy would score an empty netter for his second of the game to give the Wild the dominating 6-1 victory over the Stars to take the early series lead.
Philadelphia
Flyers v. Philadelphia Flyers v. Pittsburgh Penguins- 8p ET – Game 1
- In Pittsburgh, the Battle of Pennsylvania would take the main event spot as the Penguins would play host to the Philadelphia Flyers, and after a scoreless first period, Jamie Drysdale would score his first career playoff goal to give the Flyers the 1-0 lead, but Evgeni Malkin would score for the Penguins to tie the game at one. Then in the third period, Travis Sanheim would score and then Porter Martone would score his first career playoff goal to give the Flyers the 3-1 lead. Bryan Rust would score late for the Penguins, but it would not be enough as the Flyers would go on to defeat the Penguins 3-2 to take Game 1.
Today’s Games
- TOR v. MIN – 130p ET (PWHL)
- LA v. COL – 3p ET – Game 1
- MON v. TB – 545p ET – Game 1
- BOS v. BUF – 730p ET – Game 1
- UTH v. VGK – 10p ET – Game 1
Noteworthy in Hockey
- 32 Thoughts: Can Hellebuyck and the Jets get back on track? (SportsNet)
- Senators Shut Out In Carolina – Game Thoughts (Hockey HotStove)
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