NHL Hockey 3d Briefing
×Last updated: May 15, 2026, 8:48 AM ET
Coaching Shakeup Sways League
The NHL's coaching carousel spun hard this week as two franchises parted ways with head coaches amid playoff disappointment and long-term frustration. The Edmonton Oilers fired Kris Knoblauch espn.com despite steering the team to consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances in 2024 and 2025, and despite holding a contract extension that had not yet begun. Critics framed the move as a Band-Aid over deeper roster dysfunction tied to GM Stan Bowman's personnel decisions. Meanwhile, the Toronto Maple Leafs terminated Craig Berube espn.com after just two seasons of regression, leaving the franchise to begin what CBS Sports called "an offseason full of critical decisions". Berube's exit marks the latest in Toronto's long history of mid-cycle coaching churn, and the Leafs now face the unenviable task of building a sustainable identity around a core that has underperformed relative to its talent ceiling.
Wild Collapse Hands Avs West Semifinal Edge
Colorado Avalanche fans who witnessed their team trail 3-0 midway through the second period on Monday should have known better than to count them out. The Avs rallied to a 4-3 overtime victory espn.com, with Brett Kulak capping the comeback, and advanced to the Western Conference finals. Minnesota's season ended in equally brutal fashion when the Wild blew a three-goal first-period lead and fell 4-3 in overtime espn.com to the Avalanche in Game. Prior to that collapse, Colorado had snapped a midseries lull by beating Minnesota 4-3 in Game 4 espn.com to take a 3-1 series lead, with Nathan Mac Kinnon exiting that game with a bloody nose after a teammate's deflected puck struck his face espn.com. The Avs have also doubled their hits-per-game rate from the regular season, a level of physicality that "should be very concerned" to other Stanley Cup contenders espn.com. On the disciplinary front, Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson was fined $5,000 espn.com — the maximum CBA penalty — for striking Wild center Michael McCarron with the butt end of his stick, a play McCarron called "dirty" after Manson returned from a five-game suspension espn.com.
Vegas Takes 3-2 Series Lead Over Ducks
The Western Conference semifinal between the Vegas Golden Knights and Anaheim Ducks has delivered one of the playoffs' most tightly contested storylines. Pavel Dorofeyev scored his second goal at 4:10 of overtime espn.com to give Vegas a 3-2 win and a 3-2 series lead, while Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb will serve a one-game suspension in Thursday's Game 6 after an interference infraction that injured Ducks forward Ryan Poehling espn.com. The series is widely expected to produce a decisive Game, with CBS Sports noting that "a tight West semifinal series deserves and should get a Game 7". Game 6 promises to be one of the marquee matchups on Thursday's playoff slate.
Sabres Even Series Behind Benson's Birthday Heroics
Buffalo's second-round series against Montreal is now dead even after a pair of memorable performances. On Tuesday, Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen earned the start for Game, and the Sabres took a 3-2 series lead before Zach Benson scored on his 21st birthday espn.com — a third-period power-play goal that evened the series at 2-2. Day earlier, Tage Thompson's shot took a freakish bank bounce off the boards to become "the most pivotal goal" of Buffalo's 3-2 Game 3 win espn.com. CBS Sports listed the Sabres-Canadiens matchup as one of the top games to watch heading into Game, and analysts flagged Sabres right wing Alex Tuch as one of the best NHL player props for Tuesday's playoff slate.
Awards, Roster Moves, and Offseason Business
The individual awards season is underway with Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer winning the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year, becoming the first unanimous selection in 33 years espn.com. On the transactions front, the Vancouver Canucks named Ryan Johnson as their new general manager while Daniel and Henrik Sedin were appointed co-presidents of hockey operations espn.com. The Chicago Blackhawks inked Russian forward Roman Kantserov to a three-year deal following a record-breaking KHL season espn.com, the Columbus Blue Jackets re-signed center Charlie Coyle to a six-year, $36 million contract espn.com, and the Carolina Hurricanes extended forward Mark Jankowski to two years at an average of $1.85 million per season espn.com. Pittsburgh Penguins GM Kyle Dubas said he would "love" to bring Evgeni Malkin back for a 21st season espn.com, while Taylor Hall has emerged as a critical piece for the Carolina Hurricanes, who remain undefeated in the postseason espn.com. Elsewhere, Sidney Crosby will represent Team Canada at the men's world hockey championships, marking his fourth appearance in the tournament espn.com, and the PWHL announced expansion to Las Vegas and Hamilton, Ontario, with a 12th franchise still to be determined espn.com.