NHL Hockey 3d Briefing
×Last updated: May 24, 2026, 8:45 AM ET
Stanley Cup Playoffs
The Western Conference finals took a decisive turn espn.com when the Colorado Avalanche dropped Game 2 to the Vegas Golden Knights by a 3-1 score, leaving the defending champion on the brink of elimination down 0-2 in the series. Avalanche coach Jared Bednar admitted his squad had chances to extend a 1-0 lead before the collapse, and now all eyes are on Cale Makar's injury status as Vegas prepares for Game 2 at Ball Arena. Sports Line's model tipped the Golden Knights in Friday's contest, with expert Matt Severence deploying a same-game parlay that factored in Colorado's defensive vulnerabilities. Across the Eastern Conference, the Carolina Hurricanes and Montreal Canadiens split the first two games espn.com, with Montreal dominating Game 1 before Carolina bounced back 3-1 espn.com in Game 2 to level the series at 1-1. Star defenseman Jaccob Slavin shouldered blame for the Game 1 debacle espn.com, calling it an uncharacteristic defensive disaster, while Montreal's coaching staff has refined their "bouncing forward" system espn.com that has powered seven consecutive wins on their Stanley Cup run. The Hurricanes' loyal fanbase, known as the Caniacs, brings a rowdy college football atmosphere espn.com to PNC Arena, and the series now heads back to Montreal where the Habs have shown they can control possession and tempo espn.com against top Eastern Conference opposition.
International Hockey
Canada kept its perfect record intact espn.com at the IIHF World Championship with a 3-1 victory over Slovenia, improving to 5-0 overall, while Mark Scheifele scored three goals espn.com in a 6-5 overtime win against Norway, converting the game winner just 29 seconds into the extra period. The defending champion Americans, meanwhile, suffered their third loss espn.com of the tournament after Latvia stunned them 4-2, with Sandis Vilmanis netting two empty-net goals espn.com to seal the upset. Those back-to-back results have shuffled the medal favorites, and Canada's depth scoring has been the difference in a field where no team has dominated.
PWHL & Women's Hockey
Montreal Victoire captured their first PWHL championship espn.com with a 4-0 shutout over Ottawa Charge in Game 4 of the Walter Cup Finals, as Abby Roque scored twice espn.com to lead the decisive victory. The league continues to build its infrastructure, with Meghan Duggan leaving the NHL to become general manager espn.com of Hamilton's expansion team, while Steve O'Rourke was dismissed as Seattle Torrent coach espn.com after the expansion franchise finished last in its inaugural season. The Hamilton PWHL franchise will benefit from Duggan's competitive pedigree as the league enters its second year of play.
Transactions & Contracts
The Washington Capitals re-signed defenseman Timothy Liljegren espn.com to a two-year, $6.5 million deal, locking in veteran depth for the middle pair. The Buffalo Sabres rewarded coach Lindy Ruff espn.com with a two-year extension after he ended the franchise's league-leading 14-year playoff drought. The New York Islanders revealed their new AHL affiliate espn.com will be the