NHL Hockey 3d Briefing
×Last updated: May 24, 2026, 11:52 PM ET
International Ice Hockey
Canada extended its perfect run espn.com to 5-0 at the world championship with a 3-1 victory over Slovenia, as captain Macklin Celebrini scored and Sidney Crosby added his seventh assist espn.com in a 5-1 win against Slovakia. Mark Scheifele delivered a hat trick espn.com including the overtime winner against Norway, showcasing Canada's offensive depth. Meanwhile, defending champion United States suffered a 4-2 upset loss to Latvia espn.com with Sandis Vilmanis scoring two empty-net goals, marking the Americans' third defeat of the tournament.
Western Conference Finals
The Vegas Golden Knights took a 2-0 series lead espn.com over Colorado after a 3-1 victory in Game, with Avalanche coach Jared Bednar citing missed opportunities espn.com that cost his team despite holding an early 1-0 lead. Both teams welcomed back key players for Game 3 espn.com as Cale Makar returned for Colorado and Mark Stone came back for Vegas, setting up what promises to be a pivotal Game 3 in Denver. Sports Line's model favors Vegas in Game 2 while expert Matt Severance highlights Makar's injury status as a crucial X-factor for Colorado's chances.
Eastern Conference Finals
Montreal's remarkable playoff run continued with a dominant Game 1 performance espn.com that gave them a 1-0 series lead over Carolina, with the Canadiens showcasing contributions throughout the lineup espn.com. However, the Hurricanes rebounded in Game 2 espn.com to even the series 1-1, with star defenseman Jaccob Slavin shouldering responsibility espn.com for defensive breakdowns that cost Carolina in their opening loss. Sports Line's proven model has released its Game 2 picks as the series shifts to Montreal.
Memorial Cup & Prospects
The Everett Silvertips opened the Memorial Cup tournament with a 5-3 victory espn.com over Chicoutimi, with right wing Jesse Heslop scoring for the WHL champions in Kelowna, British Columbia. The win sets up a crucial matchup as Everett looks to become the first WHL team to capture the Canadian junior championship since 2019.
NHL Awards & Analysis
Four teams remain in the Stanley Cup playoffs, with several legitimate candidates emerging in the Conn Smythe Trophy race espn.com. Goaltending confidence ratings and X-factors espn.com are being closely monitored as the semifinal round intensifies, with each club's netminder playing a crucial role in determining which teams advance to the finals.
Front Office Moves
The Buffalo Sabres rewarded coach Lindy Ruff with a two-year contract extension espn.com after leading the team back to the playoffs and ending a 14-year postseason drought, the longest active streak in the NHL. Meanwhile, the PWHL completed its expansion leadership structure espn.com with Meghan Duggan taking over as general manager in Hamilton and Troy Ryan departing Toronto to lead San Jose. Steve O'Rourke was relieved of his duties espn.com as coach of the Seattle Torrent following the expansion team's last-place finish in its inaugural season.
Injury Updates
Ducks forward Troy Terry will require hip surgery espn.com that could jeopardize his availability for the start of next season, dealing a blow to Anaheim's offensive depth. The timeline for his recovery remains uncertain as the organization prepares for the offseason.
Franchise News
The New York Islanders announced their AHL affiliate will be known as the Hamilton Hammers espn.com after relocating the team to the Canadian city, marking a new chapter for the organization's development system.
Collectibles Market
An autographed 1979 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky rookie card sold for $540,000 including buyer's premium espn.com in Fanatics Collect's May Premier Auction, setting a new record for the most ever spent on an autographed hockey card and continuing the surge in vintage hockey memorabilia values.