NHL Hockey 3d Briefing
×Last updated: May 25, 2026, 8:47 PM ET
Eastern Conference Finals: Montreal-Carolina Series
The Eastern Conference finals between the Montreal Canadiens and Carolina Hurricanes tied 1-1 espn.com heading to Montreal, with Game 3 serving as a critical pivot point in the series espn.com. The Canadiens have mastered the art espn.com of "bouncing forward" with contributions up and down the lineup, posting a dominant performance in Game 1 that has fans dreaming of a Stanley Cup run espn.com. Montreal is seven wins from the championship, and the city in May 2026 is proving a monthlong revival of Habs fans' hopes and dreams espn.com. Star defenseman Jaccob Slavin shouldered the responsibility espn.com for the Hurricanes' uncharacteristic defensive disaster in their Game 1 loss, acknowledging his role in Montreal's victory.
Eastern Conference Finals: Expert Analysis
With the series shifting to Montreal, experts have weighed in espn.com on the penultimate round clash, while Sports Line's proven model reveals its picks for the 2026 NHL Eastern Conference finals. The Canadiens struggled on home ice during this postseason, creating uncertainty about their ability to capitalize on home advantage in this pivotal Game 3 matchup. Montreal's ability to bounce forward espn.com from adversity has been a key factor in their playoff success, with contributions coming from throughout the roster rather than relying on star power alone. The Hurricanes will look to regroup after Slavin's admission of responsibility, while the Canadiens aim to continue their surprising run through the postseason.
Western Conference Finals: Avalanche-Golden Knights
The Colorado Avalanche lament missed opportunities espn.com after losing 3-1 to the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals, despite having chances to extend their 1-0 lead. Avalanche coach Jared Bednar confirmed concerns espn.com about potentially being without Hart Trophy finalist Nathan Mac Kinnon, just when the team had welcomed back reigning Norris Trophy winner Cale Makar. The Avalanche's inability to capitalize on scoring chances proved costly in Game, as the Golden Knights took a 2-0 series lead. Colorado will need to adjust their approach in Game, with the series shifting to Las Vegas for the next two contests.
International Hockey: World Championship
At the ice hockey world championship, Canada kept rolling espn.com with a 3-1 victory over Slovenia, improving to a perfect 5-0 record in the tournament. Captain Macklin Celebrini scored while Sidney Crosby added his seventh assist of the tournament, with Canada sparkling in the final period espn.com with a four-goal outburst against Slovakia on Sunday. The defending United States team stayed alive espn.com with a 7-3 victory over Hungary, but suffered a setback when Latvia stunned them 4-2, with Sandis Vilmanis scoring two empty-net goals. The American team now faces elimination pressure after their third loss at the championship.
Memorial Cup Tournament
At the Memorial Cup in Kelowna, the WHL-champion Everett Silvertips defeated Chicoutimi espn.com 5-3 in their opening game of the tournament. Right wing Jesse Heslop scored a goal to help the Silvertips secure the victory. Later, Chicoutimi bounced back espn.com with a dramatic 3-2 overtime victory over the host Kelowna Rockets, as Liam Lefebvre scored his second goal of the game at 5:28 of overtime to give the Sagueneens the win. The Memorial Cup continues with several teams vying for the prestigious junior hockey championship title.
NHL News and Developments
Maple Leafs forward Max Domi is out indefinitely espn.com after complications arose during an offseason surgery, creating a significant gap in Toronto's forward depth. In the memorabilia world, an autographed Gretzky rookie espn.com card sold for a record $540,000 including buyer's premium in Fanatics Collect's May Premier Auction, setting a new benchmark for autographed hockey cards. Meanwhile, Steve O'Rourke departed as coach espn.com of the Seattle Torrent after the expansion team finished last in the Professional Women's Hockey League standings in its inaugural season. With four teams remaining in the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Conn Smythe Watch espn.com has identified several legitimate candidates for playoff MVP as the postseason enters its final stretch.