NHL Hockey 24 Hours

Last updated: May 25, 2026, 2:54 PM ET

World Championship & International Play

The United States kept its quarterfinal hopes alive with a 7-3 victory over Hungary at the ice hockey world championship, but the defending champions remain on shaky ground after losing to Latvia 4-2 earlier in the tournament, their third defeat of the event. Latvia's win was sealed by two empty-net goals from Sandis Vilmanis, handing the Americans yet another stumble on the international stage. Across the bracket, Canada extended its perfect record to 5-0 with a 3-1 win over Slovenia on Friday, powered by a goal from captain Macklin Celebrini and a seventh assist from Sidney Crosby that stretched his tournament tally. Crosby's vision continues to drive the Canadian attack as they cruise toward the knockout rounds with the best record in the tournament.

Eastern Conference Finals

The Hurricanes and Canadiens are tied 1-1 heading into Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals on Monday, a matchup that has become the most closely watched series in the playoffs. Carolina surged past Montreal in the series after their recent win, and the Hurricanes' momentum has been further buoyed by expert picks that favor them over a Canadiens team struggling on home ice. Sports Line's model reveals a clear lean toward Carolina for Monday's game, and the betting market has taken notice, with promos from Bet MGM and Draft Kings offering bonus bets tied to the matchup. The Canadiens' May 2026 playoff run has ignited a revival among Habs fans, though Montreal is still seven wins away from the Stanley Cup as contributions from up and down the lineup sustain their push. Stanley Cup playoff analysts flag Monday's game as a pivot point in the East Final, with updated stats and playoff metrics backing the Hurricanes' strong form.

Western Conference Finals & Playoff Landscape

The Avalanche dropped Game 2 to the Golden Knights 3-1 after squandering a 1-0 lead, with coach Jared Bednar acknowledging his team had chances to extend the advantage before the Golden Knights pulled ahead. The loss leaves the Avs facing a tough road back in the Western Conference finals. Across the bracket, expert picks for the Avs-Knights and Canes-Canadiens series reflect a market that sees Carolina's depth as the decisive edge. Meanwhile, Maple Leafs forward Max Domi is out indefinitely after complications from offseason surgery, a blow that further thins Toronto's forward group heading into the summer.

Memorial Cup & Memorabilia

In the Memorial Cup, Everett captured the opener with a 5-3 win over Chicoutimi on Saturday, with Jesse Heslop adding a goal for the WHL champions. The Sagueneens rallied for a 3-2 overtime victory over host Kelowna the next night, with Liam Lefebvre scoring his second goal of the game at 5:28 of overtime to seal the comeback. On the collectibles front, an autographed 1979 Wayne Gretzky rookie card sold for $540,000 at Fanatics Collect's May Premier Auction, setting a record for the most ever spent on an autographed hockey card.