Sports Connections Hints: Apr 18, 2026

This page shows spoiler‑layered hints for the NYT Sports Connections puzzle published on Apr 18, 2026 (2026-04-18). Step through the hints in order and only reveal the full board when you're ready.

Meta: Sports puzzle #781

Puzzle #781 · 2026-04-18 · sports

Step through today’s Connections hints

Start with broad themes, then reveal more detail about the groups and tiles only when you need it. The final button shows today's full group breakdown.

Puzzle reference: Connections #781 for 2026-04-18, edition sports, with a standard four-group board. Spoiler categories and tiles stay collapsed until you open the hint layers below.

Hint 1 – overall theme

There are 4 groups in today’s puzzle.

Themes include: TYPES OF HOCKEY GOALS, LAST FOUR TEAMS TO WIN THE STANLEY CUP, NHL ARENA NAMES and 1 more.

Hint 2 – group titles

Here are the category names for each group. Try matching the tiles in the official game to these themes before you reveal any tiles.

TYPES OF HOCKEY GOALS
LAST FOUR TEAMS TO WIN THE STANLEY CUP
NHL ARENA NAMES
HOCKEY TERMS THAT ARE ALSO FOOD ITEMS

Hint 3 – group tiles

Reveal the tiles for each group. If you only want a partial nudge, stop after reading one or two groups and go back to the official puzzle.

TYPES OF HOCKEY GOALS

EMPTY NET

POWER PLAY

EVEN STRENGTH

SHORT-HANDED

LAST FOUR TEAMS TO WIN THE STANLEY CUP

PANTHERS

GOLDEN KNIGHTS

AVALANCHE

LIGHTNING

NHL ARENA NAMES

CANADIAN TIRE

CAPITAL ONE

BALL

HOCKEY TERMS THAT ARE ALSO FOOD ITEMS

ICING

APPLE

BISCUIT

GRINDER

Reveal full answer

This is the full breakdown of today's Connections puzzle: group titles and all tiles, grouped together.