NHL Hockey 24 Hours

Last updated: May 13, 2026, 2:30 AM ET

Stanley Cup Playoff Action & Discipline

The Vegas Golden Knights stand one victory away from the Western Conference Finals after Pavel Dorofeyev delivered a 4-on-4 overtime winner, securing a 3-2 victory against the Ducks in Game. The intensity of the series boiled over in that same matchup when Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb was ejected for a hard check into the boards that forced Ducks center Ryan Poehling to be helped off the ice midway through the first period ejected for hit. In the Eastern Conference, the Buffalo Sabres leveled their semifinal series against Montreal at 2-2, powered by Zach Benson's tie-breaking goal on his 21st birthday during a third-period power play, with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen returning to the crease for Game 4 returning to net. The Sabres' Game 4 win was sealed by a bizarre sequence where Tage Thompson benefited from a fluke bank shot off the boards, proving to be the pivotal score in the 3-2 contest Thompson capitalizing.

Disciplinary action followed incidents in the Avalanche-Wild series, where defenseman Josh Manson was fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for using the blunt end of his stick against Wild center Michael McCarron Manson receives fine. McCarron later labeled Manson a "dirty player" following Manson's return from a five-game absence in Game, where Manson initially took a double minor for the infraction McCarron criticizing. Despite the disciplinary issues, the Colorado Avalanche regained control of their series, snapping back from a midseries lull to defeat Minnesota in Game 4 on Monday, thus taking a commanding 3-1 lead. The Avs' physical play previously saw Nathan Mac Kinnon bloodied after being struck in the face by a puck shot by teammate Devon Toews during that same Game 4 win MacKinnon struck.

League Transactions & International Duty

In off-ice personnel moves, the Columbus Blue Jackets committed to center Charlie Coyle, signing him to a six-year contract extension valued at $36 million, averaging $6 million annually. Meanwhile, the Carolina Hurricanes secured forward Mark Jankowski, 31, with a two-year extension carrying an average annual value of $1.85 million. Pittsburgh Penguins GM Kyle Dubas expressed a strong desire to retain longtime center Evgeni Malkin, stating he would "love" to have the veteran return for a 21st season with the franchise Dubas wanting Malkin. Internationally, Penguins star Sidney Crosby is set to suit up for Team Canada at the upcoming men's world hockey championships, marking his fourth appearance in the tournament Crosby joining Team Canada.

Prospects & Offseason Focus

The focus on elite young talent continues, particularly surrounding expected top pick Gavin McKenna, whose journey from Whitehorse, Yukon, through Medicine Hat and Penn State has positioned him as the consensus No. 1 selection in the upcoming NHL Draft McKenna's unique path. On the women's side, the PWHL's inaugural draft class is heavily weighted toward American talent, with five members of the U.S. Olympic gold medal-winning team, including defender Caroline Harvey, expected to be selected early from the 235-player pool. Separately, the league recognized community contributions by announcing the six finalists—three from the U.S. and three from Canada—for the Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award, with voting open until May 24 O'Ree finalists announced.

Off-Ice Legal Matters & Veteran Form

Attorneys for the driver accused in the fatal crash involving former NHL players Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau legal charges upheld argued for the dismissal of charges due to a reported discrepancy in the documented blood alcohol level reporting. In personnel news related to veterans, Carolina Hurricanes forward Taylor Hall, the 2018 Hart Trophy winner, is reportedly finding his MVP form again, playing a critical role for the Hurricanes who remain undefeated this postseason Hall regaining form. Furthermore, discussions surrounding player performance included betting markets, where Sabres right wing Alex Tuch was cited by analysts as one of the best prop bets for Tuesday's playoff slate Tuch listed as bet.