NHL Hockey 24 Hours

Last updated: May 22, 2026, 2:49 PM ET

World Championships & International Play Canada extended its flawless run at the ice‑hockey world championship with a 3‑1 victory over Slovenia, improving to 5‑0 on the tournament maintained perfect record. The win was bolstered by Mark Scheifele’s three‑goal outburst, including the overtime winner 29 seconds into the extra period, capping a 6‑5 thriller against Norway the night before scored overtime heroics. Both performances keep Canada atop Group A and reinforce its status as the favorite heading into the knockout stage.

Western Conference Finals – Colorado vs. Vegas The Golden Knights seized a 4‑2 opening‑game win, propelled by Dylan Coghlan’s first playoff goal and Carter Hart’s 36 saves, giving Vegas a 1‑0 series lead opened series. Colorado’s prospects dimmed further after star defenseman Cale Makar was ruled out with an upper‑body injury, a development that analysts say stripped the Avalanche of its top‑down defensive structure and contributed to the 4‑2 loss lost star defender. Sports Line’s pre‑game model, which had favored a tighter contest, now highlights the “trickle‑down effect” of Makar’s absence as a key factor in the Avs’ diminished performance identified impact.

Playoff Momentum – Canadiens & Hurricanes Carolina entered Game 1 after a historic 100‑day layoff, only to surrender four first‑period goals to Montreal, who rode a dominant early surge to a decisive win handed early barrage. Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin later admitted he “handed the Canadiens the game,” acknowledging the breakdown that led to the loss accepted responsibility. Meanwhile, the Canadiens’ overall display earned them top grades from analysts, who noted the team’s balanced scoring and goaltending as reasons to expect continued success in the series earned top grades.

Management Moves & League Expansion The Buffalo Sabres secured a two‑year extension for veteran coach Lindy Ruff after he guided the club back to the playoffs, ending a league‑leading 14‑year postseason drought extended coach. In women’s hockey, former U.S. Olympian Meghan Duggan departed her developmental role with the New Jersey Devils to become general manager of the PWHL’s Hamilton expansion franchise, signaling a push to deepen talent pipelines in the growing league appointed GM. The New York Islanders also announced the Hamilton Hammers as the name of their relocated AHL affiliate, further solidifying the market’s hockey footprint named affiliate.

Roster Health & Contract Updates Los Angeles forward Troy Terry was confirmed to require hip surgery, casting doubt on his availability for the upcoming season and prompting the Ducks to explore short‑term roster adjustments underwent surgery. In Washington, defenseman Timothy Liljegren re‑signed on a two‑year, $6.5 million deal, providing the Capitals with continuity on the blue line as the playoffs progress re‑signed defenseman. Across the women’s game, Abby Roque delivered a two‑goal performance to lead Montreal to a 4‑0 shutout victory, clinching the PWHL championship in Game 4 and delivering the franchise’s first title secured championship.