NHL Hockey 3d Briefing
×Last updated: May 13, 2026, 2:30 AM ET
Stanley Cup Playoffs: Vegas & Buffalo Even Series
The Western Conference semifinal saw the Vegas Golden Knights espn.com edge closer to the Conference Finals after Pavel Dorofeyev scored his second of the night, delivering a 3-2 overtime victory against the Ducks espn.com to seize a commanding 3-2 series lead heading home. The Knights’ win followed a controversial moment in Game 5 where defenseman Brayden McNabb was tossed for a hard check into the boards that sent Ducks center Ryan Poehling off the ice requiring assistance espn.com. Meanwhile, the Eastern Conference saw the Buffalo Sabres espn.com fight back to even their series against Montreal at 2-2, driven by Zach Benson's go-ahead power-play goal on his 21st birthday in a tight 3-2 contest espn.com. Sabres coach opted to return Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to the crease for Game, cementing the team’s reliance on the netminder despite the prior game's pressure espn.com.
The Sabres’ Game 4 success was reportedly sealed by a "freakish bounce" off the boards that set up Tage Thompson for the pivotal goal in Tuesday night’s contest espn.com, suggesting that fortune favored Buffalo as they avoided falling into a decisive 3-1 series deficit espn.com. In contrast, the Carolina Hurricanes remained perfect espn.com in the postseason, completing an 8-0 run by sweeping the Flyers after Jackson Blake potted his second goal of the night in overtime to secure a 3-2 victory espn.com. This dominant start sets up Carolina to await the victor of the Sabres-Canadiens matchup, with Montreal reportedly favored to win their series against Buffalo despite the recent setback.
Colorado's Mid-Series Jitters & Discipline
The Colorado Avalanche espn.com managed to snap out of a midseries slump by beating the Minnesota Wild in Game 4 on Monday, taking a 3-1 series lead, though not without taking some physical punishment espn.com. Star forward Nathan Mac Kinnon required attention after being struck in the face by a puck fired by teammate Devon Toews during the pivotal Game 4 win espn.com. Discipline became an issue for the Avalanche as defenseman Josh Manson was fined the maximum allowable $5,000 by the league for using the blunt end of his stick on Wild center Michael McCarron espn.com, an action McCarron later labeled Manson as "a dirty player" espn.com. Minnesota had previously halted Colorado’s momentum in Game, with Jesper Wallstedt making 34 saves in a decisive 5-1 victory after being reinserted as the starter following a Game 2 benching espn.com.
League Transactions & Offseason Outlook
In roster news, the Columbus Blue Jackets espn.com secured center Charlie Coyle with a new six-year contract extension valued at $36 million, providing stability at the center position espn.com. Elsewhere, the Pittsburgh Penguins espn.com indicated a strong desire to retain veteran Evgeni Malkin, with GM Kyle Dubas stating he would "love" to have the longtime center return for a 21st season espn.com. The Blackhawks are anticipating prospect Roman Kantserov joining the roster after successfully terminating his contract with the KHL espn.com, while the Hurricanes finalized a two-year extension with forward Mark Jankowski carrying an average annual value of $1.85 million espn.com.
Player Honors & Future Prospects
Star players are already being recognized ahead of the formal awards ceremonies; Connor McDavid espn.com, Nathan Mac Kinnon, and Nikita Kucherov were named the three finalists for the Hart Trophy as the league's Most Valuable Player espn.com. Furthermore, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is set to compete for Team Canada at the upcoming men's world hockey championships, marking his fourth appearance in that tournament espn.com. to the draft, prospective No. 1 overall pick Gavin McKenna is drawing attention for his unique path from Whitehorse, Yukon, through Medicine Hat to Penn State, setting the stage for his expected NHL entry. The league also announced the six finalists—three American and three Canadian—for the Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award, with voting now open until May.
Off-Ice Legal Matters & Women's Hockey
In somber legal news, the court upheld the criminal charges against the driver accused in the deaths of the late NHL player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew, rejecting arguments from the defense counsel concerning discrepancies in blood alcohol level reporting espn.com. Separately, the PWHL's upcoming draft class espn.com is highly anticipated, headlined by five members of the U.S. Olympic gold medal-winning team, including defender Caroline Harvey, as the league builds out its talent pool from a pool of 235 prospective players espn.com.