NHL Hockey 24 Hours

Last updated: May 21, 2026, 5:49 PM ET

NHL Betting Landscape

Sportsbooks rolled out aggressive promos for Thursday's dual-sport slate, with Bet MGM offering $1,500 in bonus bets using code CBSSPORTS for NHL and NBA matchups, while Draft Kings triggered instant $100 bonus bets after a minimal $5 first wager. The promotions targeted high-profile games including the Canadiens-Hurricanes playoff opener and Knicks-Cavaliers NBA clash, reflecting a busy wagering menu across leagues.

World Championship Highlights

Canada survived a Norway scare as Mark Scheifele completed a hat trick with the overtime winner 29 seconds in, securing a 6-5 victory. Earlier, the United States edged Germany in a shootout with Ryan Leonard converting the decisive penalty for a 4-3 win, keeping both North American teams perfect through early round-robin play.

Eastern Conference Final Preview

The Carolina Hurricanes host Montreal in Game 1 of the East Final Thursday, with the Canadiens seeking to disrupt the Hurricanes' playoff perfection. Carolina's tailgating, BBQ-fueled crowd creates a rowdy, college-football atmosphere that fuels the home team, though Sports Line's model pegs the series as tightly contested despite Carolina's unblemished postseason run.

Western Conference Final Opens

The Golden Knights grabbed home-ice advantage with a 4-2 win over Colorado, Dylan Coghlan scoring his first playoff goal and Carter Hart stifling the Avalanche with 36 saves. The Avalanche missed Cale Makar's presence after the star defenseman suffered an upper-body injury; his absence disrupted Colorado's top-seeded rhythm and contributed to a stagnant offensive performance.

Conn Smythe Contention

With four teams remaining, the Conn Smythe race remains wide open. Vegas's Hart and Carter have been steady, while Edmonton's Leon Draisaitl and Carolina's Sebastian Aho are among the leading candidates for playoff MVP as the field narrows.

Capitals Reinforcement

Washington bolstered its blue line by re-signing Timothy Liljegren to a two-year, $6.5 million deal. The defenseman's return provides stability on the right side after he emerged as a reliable top-four presence during his first season with the club.

PWHL Championship Clinched

Montreal captured its first PWHL title with a dominant 4-0 shutout of Ottawa in Game. Abby Roque paced the Victoire with two goals, completing a wire-to-wire championship run and capping a historic first season for the expansion franchise.