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18 articles summarized · Last updated: LATEST

Last updated: May 25, 2026, 8:49 PM ET

Eastern Conference Finals

The NHL's Eastern Conference finals heated up Monday with Game 3 representing a potential inflection point for both series, as the Hurricanes visited Montreal and the Avalanche traveled to Las Vegas. The Hurricanes-Canadiens matchup turned the tide after a 7-3 drubbing of Hungary at the world championship proved the underdog narrative was alive and well. Montreal, now tied at 1-1 in the series, mastered the art of bouncing back this postseason with contributions across the lineup, putting themselves just seven wins away from the Stanley Cup. Sports Line's model projects the Hurricanes to benefit from Montreal's shaky home-ice record this spring, while expert picks leaned toward Colorado in its series despite the Avalanche potentially losing Hart Trophy finalist Nathan Mac Kinnon to injury. Bednar told reporters the Avs would manage without a limited Mac Kinnon as they aim to extend their 3-0 series lead, but the timing is brutal — Colorado had just welcomed back Norris Trophy winner Cale Makar. The Canadiens' resurgence has turned Montreal into something rare: a May city buzzing with playoff hope, with fans packing the Bell Centre and the club riding a month-long revival of belief.

Stars Align at Worlds

Across the pond, Canada continued its dominance at the IIHF World Championship with Macklin Celebrini scoring and Sidney Crosby adding his seventh assist in a 5-1 rout of Slovakia on Sunday. Crosby's passing touch kept Canada cruising as the team built a four-goal surge in the final period to seal a comfortable win. Over in Group Play, the United States topped Hungary 7-3 to stay alive for a quarterfinal berth, with the Americans defending their title on the line. The tournament has given the NHL's biggest names a stage, and Canada's depth proved overwhelming against European opposition, with Celebrini and Crosby forming a lethal one-two punch through the medal round.

Injury Blow and Memorial Cup Drama

Closer to home, the Maple Leafs lost forward Max Domi indefinitely after complications arose from offseason surgery, a setback that removes a key depth piece from Toronto's roster just as the offseason begins in earnest. The news came alongside the ongoing playoff action, where Chicoutimi staged an overtime thriller at the Memorial Cup, with Liam Lefebvre scoring his second goal of the game at 5:28 of OT to edge the host Kelowna Rockets 3-2. The Sagueneens' victory keeps the Memorial Cup competitive heading into its knockout stages.

The Hurricanes-Canadiens Game 3 hosts Montreal with the series tied, and the Canadiens' struggle on home ice this postseason could shape how the series unfolds. Meanwhile, experts have weighed in on the remainder of the Eastern Conference finals, with Game 3 of the Avs-Knights series offering another swing point. Sports Line's proven model has offered its picks for Monday's matchups, giving bettors a data-driven lens on two of the year's most compelling series. The Eastern Conference finals are shaping up as a grueling affair, with neither team willing to concede ground and both franchises aware that a single-game swing could define their summer.