NHL Hockey 24 Hours

Last updated: May 25, 2026, 11:49 PM ET

Playoff Push: Conference Finals and Injury Fallout

The Eastern Conference finals reached a critical juncture Monday as the Hurricanes hosted the Canadiens for Game, a series now tied at 1-1 heading to Montreal Hurricanes series grades. Colorado faces a parallel test after Bednar suggested the Avalanche will target a limited Nathan Mac Kinnon after the team welcomed back reigning Norris Trophy winner Cale Makar, though the Hart Trophy finalist may sit out with injury concerns limited Mac Kinnon approach. On the injury front, Maple Leafs forward Max Domi is out indefinitely after complications from offseason surgery, removing a key piece of Toronto's forward depth Domi sidelined indefinitely. Expert picks across the penultimate round favor the Hurricanes over the Canadiens and the Avalanche over the Golden Knights, though the Canadiens have proven resilient, winning seven games en route to the Stanley Cup with contributions distributed throughout the lineup Canadiens resilience.

Betting Markets Heat Up Around Playoff Matchups

Sports betting activity spiked around Monday's slate of marquee games, with the Hurricanes-Canadiens matchup drawing particular attention as oddsmakers priced a competitive Eastern Conference finals Hurricanes-Canadiens odds. Promotional offers from Bet MGM and Draft Kings are driving volume, with a $1,500 bonus bet offer tied to the Cavaliers-Knicks and Hurricanes-Canadiens games on Monday and a $100 instant bonus available on the Thunder-Spurs and Golden Knights-Avalanche contests from Sunday Bet MGM promo Monday Draft Kings promo Sunday. Industry analysts note that the combination of deep playoff runs and aggressive promotional pricing has created a surge in first-bet activity across NBA, NHL, and MLB lines bonus bet surge.

International Hockey: Canada Dominates at Worlds

At the IIHF World Championship, Team Canada continued its dominant run with a 5-1 dismantling of Slovakia, powered by four goals in the final period that extended their undefeated streak through the group stage Canada cruising at worlds. Captain Macklin Celebrini found the net while Sidney Crosby recorded his seventh assist of the tournament, cementing Canada's status as a serious title contender. Across the bracket, the United States kept alive their quarterfinal hopes with a 7-3 rout of Hungary, preserving the defending champions' path forward after a patchy start to the tournament U.S. stays alive at worlds.

Memorial Cup: Chicoutimi Advances in Overtime Thriller

Down in the junior ranks, the Memorial Cup produced drama as the Chicoutimi Sagueneens edged the host Kelowna Rockets 3-2 in overtime on Sunday night, with Liam Lefebvre scoring his second goal of the game at 5:28 of the extra period to seal the victory Chicoutimi wins in OT. The Sagueneens now advance to the next round of the annual Canadian junior championship, while Kelowna's elimination caps a memorable but ultimately unsuccessful host run at the tournament.