NHL Hockey 24 Hours

Last updated: May 12, 2026, 8:30 PM ET

Stanley Cup Playoffs & Player Discipline

The second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs continues tonight with a pivotal ESPN doubleheader, while the Colorado Avalanche snapped a midseries lull by defeating the Minnesota Wild in Game, taking a commanding 3-1 series lead. During that contest, Avs defenseman Josh Manson was fined $5,000 by the league—the maximum allowable under the CBA—for using the blunt end of his stick against Wild center Michael McCarron, an incident McCarron later labeled the Avs player as "a dirty player". Meanwhile, Buffalo prepared for its own crucial Game, with the Sabres turning back to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in net against Montreal, as Buffalo faces elimination odds despite betting markets viewing right wing Alex Tuch as a prime player prop target for the evening's action. Furthermore, Colorado star Nathan Mac Kinnon required attention on Monday after skating off with a bloody nose after being struck by a puck hit by teammate Devon Toews in the same Game 4 victory.

Team Personnel & Contract Updates

In organizational news outside the immediate playoff fray, the Columbus Blue Jackets secured center Charlie Coyle on a fresh six-year contract extension valued at $36 million, providing stability to their lineup. The Carolina Hurricanes, currently enjoying an undefeated run this postseason, confirmed a two-year contract extension for forward Mark Jankowski, carrying an average annual value of $1.85 million for the 31-year-old. On the personnel front, Pittsburgh Penguins General Manager Kyle Dubas expressed his strong desire to retain longtime center Evgeni Malkin, stating he would "love" to have the veteran back for a 21st season with the organization. Adding to the international roster news, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is set to join Team Canada for the upcoming men's world hockey championships, marking his fourth appearance in that tournament.

Prospects, Honors, and Off-Ice Matters

Attention is already turning toward future talent, as prognosticators view forward Gavin McKenna as the expected No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft, whose journey has taken him from Whitehorse, Yukon, through Medicine Hat, and onward to Penn State before his NHL debut. In women's hockey, the Professional Women's Hockey League's upcoming draft pool of 235 players is notably headlined by five members of the U.S. Olympic gold medal-winning team, including defender Caroline Harvey. Separately, the NHL formally announced the six finalists—three American and three Canadian—for the Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award, with voting now open until May 24 before winners are revealed in June. Meanwhile, Hurricanes forward Taylor Hall, the 2010 No. 1 overall pick and 2018 Hart Trophy winner, is reportedly regaining his elite form and remains a critical component for the Hurricanes' current playoff success. In legal proceedings, attorneys for the driver accused in the deaths of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau failed in their bid to dismiss charges after arguing against a discrepancy found in blood alcohol level reporting.