NHL Hockey 3d Briefing
×Last updated: May 20, 2026, 2:48 AM ET
Stanley Cup Playoffs: Conference Finals Set
The NHL's "Final Four" has been determined with the Avalanche facing Golden Knights espn.com in the Western Conference finals and Hurricanes battling Canadiens in the Eastern Conference final. The Avalanche's star defenseman Cale Makar sat out practice espn.com on the eve of the Western Conference finals, raising concerns about his availability for Game 1 against Vegas. Meanwhile, the Vegas Golden Knights lost their appeal espn.com of NHL-imposed sanctions for not making the team available to the media, resulting in coach John Tortorella's $100,000 fine and the loss of a second-round draft pick espn.com. The NHL has implemented these penalties after the team's decision to avoid speaking to the media following their series-clinching win. The Canadiens outlasted Sabres in overtime espn.com in Game, with Alex Newhook scoring his second Game 7-winning goal of the postseason, advancing Montreal to face the Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference final.
Coaching Changes & Front Office Moves
The Vancouver Canucks fired first-year coach Adam Foote espn.com and three assistants on Tuesday after compiling a 25-49-8 record in his first year behind the bench. In contrast, New Jersey Devils coach Sheldon Keefe will return espn.com after new general manager Sunny Mehta completed his evaluation of the organization. Multiple NHL teams are waiting to interview Bruce Cassidy espn.com but have not yet received permission from the Vegas Golden Knights as of Tuesday. The Buffalo forward Alex Tuch espn.com, who struggled in the Sabres' second-round series loss to the Canadiens, will hit free agency this summer, though his agent Scott Bartlett indicated Tuch's performance won't affect his next contract. The Edmonton Oilers fired coach Kris Knoblauch espn.com despite leading the team to back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances in 2024 and 2025 and having a contract extension that hadn't even begun.
League Expansion & Offseason Planning
The Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) expanded to San Jose espn.com, completing its ambitious four-team expansion process and bringing the league to 12 teams. As teams look ahead to the offseason, Minnesota Wild star defenseman Quinn Hughes espn.com says he is "definitely open" to signing a contract extension with the team. The Wild's offseason plans have been complicated by goalie Filip Gustavsson requiring hip surgery espn.com, putting his readiness for training camp in question. Additionally, defensemen Jonas Brodin and Joel Eriksson Ek were unable to play espn.com for the Wild in the second round against the Avalanche due to broken bones in their feet. NHL teams are planning for free agency espn.com as the offseason approaches, with each organization evaluating their next moves for the 2026-27 season.
International Hockey Highlights
At the ice hockey world championship in Switzerland, Canada routed Denmark 5-1 espn.com behind Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby's four assists. In a separate contest, Canada blanked Italy 6-0 espn.com with Macklin Celebrini scoring twice and adding an assist, improving Canada's record to 2-0 in the tournament. The United States men's hockey team espn.com bounced back from a loss to Switzerland with a 5-1 victory over tournament newcomer Britain. Meanwhile, Hungary shut out Britain 5-0 espn.com at the tournament for its first victory at this year's world championship.
Historical Items & Betting Markets
A ring given to Herb Brooks, the coach of the 1980 United States "Miracle on Ice" Olympic men's hockey team, recently sold for $549,000 espn.com at Heritage Auctions. The Buffalo Sabres, despite their emotional 3-2 overtime loss espn.com to the Montreal Canadiens in Game, received a standing ovation after what was described as a historic campaign. As the Stanley Cup Playoffs continue, Sports Line NHL analyst Scott Erskine provided an overview of the conference final matchup between Carolina and Montreal. The Avalanche-Golden Knights series is also receiving analysis from experts, with the Sports Line model revealing picks for their 2026 NHL playoff matchup. Betting markets remain active, with Draft Kings offering $100 in bonus bets and Bet MGM providing $1,500 in bonus bets for Thunder-Spurs, Canadiens-Sabres, and MLB games on Monday.
Prospect Watch
Prospect Gavin McKenna's journey espn.com from Whitehorse, Yukon, to Medicine Hat to Penn State has positioned him as the expected No. 1 pick in the upcoming NHL draft. McKenna's unique path and development have made him a special prospect in the eyes of NHL scouts, with his next stop expected to be the NHL. While the draft remains several months away, teams are already beginning to evaluate the top prospects as they prepare for their offseason planning.
Betting Odds & Daily Games
Sports Line's projection model has provided best bets and props for the biggest games in sports on Tuesday, including Cavs vs. Knicks Game, Brewers vs. Cubs, and Dodgers vs. The Canadiens vs. Sabres odds for Game 7 were analyzed by Sports Line's model, which revealed its picks for the 2026 Stanley Cup playoff second-round matchup. As the NHL postseason continues, the league's futures odds remain a focal point for bettors, with analysts providing predictions for the remaining conference finals and eventual Stanley Cup champion.