NHL Hockey 3d Briefing
×Last updated: May 20, 2026, 11:45 PM ET
NHL Hockey Briefing
Western Conference Finals: Avalanche vs. Golden Knights
The 2026 Western Conference finals espn.com open Wednesday in Denver, with the Colorado Avalanche hosting the Vegas Golden Knights in Game, but the Avs will be without star defenseman Cale Makar, who has been ruled out as Makar missed his second straight practice espn.com on Tuesday, escalating concerns about his availability for the series opener. Colorado has not lost on home ice this postseason, posting a perfect 5-0 record at Ball Arena, while the Golden Knights counter with a deep forward group that pummeled opponents in the second round. The Avs sat out Makar espn.com from practice on the eve of the clash, leaving head coach Jared Bednar to adjust his pairings — a significant blow given Makar’s 12 points in nine playoff games. Vegas, meanwhile, faces its own off-ice distraction: the NHL stripped the Golden Knights of their second-round pick espn.com and fined head coach John Tortorella $100,000 for the team’s media blackout after its series-clinching win over the Oilers, a punishment that also stems from Tortorella’s prior conduct. The Sports Line projection model favors Colorado in Game, citing the Avs’ home-ice dominance, but Vegas has covered the puck line in six of its last seven road games.
Eastern Conference Finals: Hurricanes vs. Canadiens
The Carolina Hurricanes will begin the Eastern Conference finals on Thursday night against the Montreal Canadiens, but they face an 11-day layoff without a game espn.com — the longest between playoff series since 1919 — after sweeping both the Rangers and Bruins to start the postseason. Carolina’s inactivity has drawn scrutiny, as teams with such extended rest historically struggle with rhythm, though the Hurricanes’ top line of Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, and Seth Jarvis has been dominant. The Canadiens, by contrast, are riding momentum from an emotional Game 7 win espn.com Monday night in Buffalo, when Alex Newhook scored his second overtime winner of the playoffs to eliminate the Sabres 3-2 in a heart-stopping affair. Montreal’s confidence in goalie Sam Montembeault remains a major X factor espn.com, as he posted a .938 save percentage in the second round despite facing heavy scoring chances. Analysts split on the series outcome espn.com, with some picking Carolina’s depth and defensive structure, while others point to Montreal’s resilience and Newhook’s clutch gene. The NHL futures market lists the Hurricanes as -175 series favorites.
Sabres’ Season Ends, Ruff Gets Extension, Tuch’s Future Uncertain
Though their renaissance season ended with a 3-2 overtime loss in Game 7 espn.com to Montreal, the Buffalo Sabres received a standing ovation from a sold-out Key Bank Center, a testament to their remarkable turnaround from a league-worst 14-year playoff drought. Team brass acted quickly Tuesday, rewarding coach Lindy Ruff with a two-year contract extension espn.com after the 66-year-old mentored a young core to 47 wins and a second-round berth. “It’s a giant step,” Ruff said, calling the season a foundation for sustained contention. However, the Sabres face a difficult offseason decision on forward Alex Tuch, who scored just one point in the second round espn.com and was a glaring disappointment. Tuch’s agent, Scott Bartlett, told ESPN on Tuesday that his client’s struggles will not affect his next contract negotiations espn.com, though Tuch is set to hit unrestricted free agency. The Sabres also must navigate cap constraints and decide on restricted free agents like Owen Power.
Coaching Carousel and Front Office Moves
The Vancouver Canucks fired first-year head coach Adam Foote espn.com on Tuesday after a disastrous 25-49-8 season, also dismissing three assistants as the rebuild enters a new phase. Foote, a Hall of Fame defenseman, could not replicate his success from the AHL bench. In Newark, the New Jersey Devils retained Sheldon Keefe espn.com after general manager Sunny Mehta completed a full organizational evaluation. Mehta cited Keefe’s ability to adapt systems midseason as a reason for keeping him, even as the Devils underperformed relative to lofty expectations. Meanwhile, the Vegas Golden Knights have not granted permission espn.com for other teams to interview assistant Bruce Cassidy, sources told ESPN, as interest grows around the veteran bench boss who helped guide the Golden Knights’ run.
Wild’s Offseason Plans: Hughes Extension, Gustavsson Surgery
Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes, eligible to sign an extension July 1, told reporters Tuesday he is “definitely open” to a long-term deal espn.com with the club that drafted him. Hughes, posted 67 points and is the linchpin of Minnesota’s blueline, but the team’s cap situation from the Zach Parise and Ryan Suter buyouts remains restrictive. The Wild also face a potential goaltending void: starter Filip Gustavsson will undergo offseason hip surgery espn.com, putting his readiness for training camp in doubt and likely forcing general manager Bill Guerin to explore the trade or free-agent market for a short-term fix. The ESPN offseason preview espn.com suggests Minnesota could target a low-cost veteran netminder while Gustavsson recovers.
World Championships Update
At the men’s ice hockey world championship in Switzerland, Canada rolled Denmark 5-1 on Monday espn.com with Sidney Crosby assisting on four goals in the third period, then blanked Italy 6-0 on Tuesday espn.com behind two goals and an assist from Macklin Celebrini, the presumptive No. 1 pick in the 2025 NHL draft. Canada improved to 2-0 in the preliminary round. Elsewhere, Austria and Norway posted victories espn.com on Tuesday, while Hungary shut out Britain 5-0 for its first win of the tournament, a notable result for a nation that just rejoined the top division.
PWHL Expansion: San Jose Becomes 12th Team
The Professional Women’s Hockey League added San Jose as its 12th franchise espn.com, completing an ambitious four-team expansion process that brings the league into California for the first time. The team will play at the SAP Center, home of the Sharks, and begins competition in the 2026-27 season. The PWHL already has teams in New York, Boston, Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Minnesota, Detroit, Chicago, Seattle, Vancouver, and Dallas, with San Jose slotting into the Western Conference.
Miscellaneous: Miracle on Ice Ring, Betting Promos
A championship ring awarded to Herb Brooks espn.com, coach of the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” U.S. Olympic team, sold for $549,000 at Heritage Auctions, more than double its pre-sale estimate. The ring, originally given to Brooks after the gold medal victory, was part of a collection of hockey memorabilia. In the betting space, multiple sportsbooks are offering enhanced promotions for the conference finals, including Bet MGM’s $1,500 bonus bet offer and Draft Kings’ $100 instant bonus for new customers wagering on the Avalanche-Golden Knights and Hurricanes-Canadiens series.