play0:43Ryan McLeod doubles Sabres’ lead from tight angleRyan McLeod doubles Sabres’ lead from tight angle
play0:45Beckett Sennecke breaks deadlock with 2nd-period Ducks’ goalBeckett Sennecke breaks deadlock with 2nd-period Ducks’ goal
P.K. Subban: Hurricanes have a real shot to make Stanley Cup Final (2:13)P.K. Subban joins Pat McAfee and breaks down how impressive and legit the Hurricanes are after going up 2-0 vs. the Flyers. (2:13)
Beckett Sennecke breaks deadlock with 2nd-period Ducks’ goalBeckett Sennecke breaks deadlock with 2nd-period Ducks’ goal
Now that Game 1 of the Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens series is in the books, the full second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs is officially underway.
On Thursday, the action continues with Game 3 of the Carolina Hurricanes-Philadelphia Flyers series, with the battle moving to Philly for this matchup and Game 4 on Saturday.
Unlike in Round 1 when the Flyers jumped out to a 3-0 lead on the Pittsburgh Penguins, Trevor Zegras & Co. are now in an 2-0 hole, looking to stage their own comeback.
Here’s what to watch in the game, along with scores and highlights from Wednesday’s games, and updated playoff stat leaders.
Read more: Full schedule Playoff Central Stanley Cup odds Conn Smythe Watch Second-round picks Offseason guide for eliminated teams
In Stanley Cup playoff history, teams that go up 2-0 in a seven-game series have a 363-58 series record (winning the series 86% of the time).
The Flyers have lost three straight best-of-seven series in which they trailed 2-0. But they do have a history of miracle comebacks. They are one of four teams to come back from a 3-0 hole, doing so in the 2010 conference semifinals against the Boston Bruins.
All four games the two teams played in the regular season went to overtime. The Hurricanes won one game in OT and two in a shootout, and the Flyers won the final matchup in a shootout.
Taylor Hall scored the winning overtime goal in Game 2, the first such goal of his career in his 13th playoff OT game. He’s riding a six-game point streak, the longest playoff-opening point streak in franchise history.
Teammate Seth Jarvis also scored a goal in Game 2, the 20th of his playoff career. He is the third player in franchise history to reach the milestone, joining Sebastian Aho (who has 37) and Andrei Svechnikov (23).
The Flyers’ young stars began the postseason strong but have faltered of late. Zegras had four points through the first four games against Pittsburgh, but none in the final two games of that series and the first two of this one.
Porter Martone scored the winning goals in Games 1 and 2 of the Penguins series but was held off the scoresheet in Games 4-6 against Pittsburgh and Games 1-2 against Carolina.
The Sabres faithful were once again in high spirits for this contest at KeyBank Center, and their team rewarded the energetic reception with a Josh Doan goal at 4:31 of the first period. That was followed up by a power-play tally at 13:26 from Ryan McLeod on a slick series of passes, but the Canadiens pulled within one at 19:16 via a Nick Suzuki tally with the man advantage.
Buffalo pulled away in the second, getting goals from Jordan Greenway (his first of the playoffs) and Bowen Byram (his fourth). Kirby Dach dropped the Sabres’ lead to 4-2, but the Habs didn’t get any closer. Game 2 of the series is Friday in Buffalo. Full recap.
Ryan McLeod doubles Sabres’ lead from tight angleRyan McLeod doubles Sabres’ lead from tight angle
After looking a bit outmatched in Game 1, the Ducks turned the tables in the second contest. Calder Trophy finalist Beckett Sennecke scored his second goal of the postseason to kick things off in the second period, and that was followed by Leon Carlsson’s fourth of the playoffs at 6:36 of the third. Vegas coach John Tortorella pulled the goalie to ignite his offense, but Anaheim’s Jansen Harkins notched at empty-netter at 16:30 to push the lead to three goals.
A Mark Stone goal at 19:54 ruined the shutout bid for Lukas Dostal, but wasn’t nearly enough to win the game. The series now shifts to Anaheim for Games 3 and 4, the first of which is Friday evening. Full recap.
Beckett Sennecke breaks deadlock with 2nd-period Ducks’ goal
Beckett Sennecke breaks deadlock with 2nd-period Ducks’ goal
P.K. Subban: Hurricanes have a real shot to make Stanley Cup Final (2:13)P.K. Subban joins Pat McAfee and breaks down how impressive and legit the Hurricanes are after going up 2-0 vs. the Flyers. (2:13)
P.K. Subban joins Pat McAfee and breaks down how impressive and legit the Hurricanes are after going up 2-0 vs. the Flyers. (2:13)
Carolina Hurricanes at Philadelphia Flyers Game 3, 8 p.m. ET (TNT) | CAR leads 2-0
Buffalo Sabres 4, Montreal Canadiens 2 Sabres lead 1-0
Anaheim Ducks 3, at Vegas Golden Knights 1 Series tied 1-1