NHL Hockey 24 Hours

Last updated: May 19, 2026, 2:50 AM ET

Playoff Drama

The Montreal Canadiens clinched a second-round series with a Game 7 overtime victory over the Sabres on Monday, as Alex Newhook scored his second postseason Game 7-winning goal to send Montreal through. Newhook, who had previously delivered a decisive overtime strike in the first round, once again rose to the occasion under the brightest spotlight. The win set up a potentially grueling next series for Montreal, while Buffalo's season came to a quiet end after a promising regular season.

Wild Front Changes

Minnesota faces a summer of uncertainty on multiple fronts. Star defenseman Quinn Hughes, who becomes extension-eligible July 1, told reporters he is definitely open to re-signing with the Wild, offering the franchise a chance to lock in a core piece before free agency opens. Meanwhile, starting goaltender Filip Gustavsson will undergo offseason hip surgery that could leave his availability for training camp in doubt, compounding a season in which injuries disrupted the team's depth chart. Free agency plans outlined by analysts point to the Wild needing to address both forward and defensive depth while managing cap constraints, with the Hughes situation representing the most pressing negotiation.

World Championship Dominance

At the IIHF World Championship, Canada continued its commanding run with a pair of emphatic wins. In Monday's 5-1 rout of Denmark, Sidney Crosby dished four assists, with five third-period goals propelling the victory, showcasing the veteran's enduring playmaking ability on the international stage. Canada then blanked Italy 6-0 the next day, with 20-year-old Macklin Celebrini scoring twice and adding an assist in his breakout performance. The back-to-back blowouts have Canada sitting 2-0 through the preliminary round with a clear path to medal contention.

Discipline & Heritage

The NHL stripped the Vegas Golden Knights of their second-round draft pick and fined coach John Tortorella $100,000 for the team's orchestrated media blackout following a series-clinching win, marking one of the league's steepest penalties for circumventing postgame press obligations. Across hockey history, a Herb Brooks ring from the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" sold for $549,000 at Heritage Auctions, fetching a premium that reflects the enduring cultural cachet of that championship moment.

Prospects & Odds

Top prospect Gavin McKenna, a Yukon native on track to become the expected No. 1 overall pick in June's NHL Draft, has drawn comparisons to the league's most elite defensemen after a dominant collegiate season at Penn State. Meanwhile, bettors scanning Monday's slate found sportsbooks heavily backing Montreal in the Canadiens-Sabres Game, with Draft Kings and Bet MGM offering bonus incentives for NHL wagers that included the matchup alongside NBA and MLB action.