NHL Hockey 3 Days

Last updated: May 12, 2026, 2:30 PM ET

Stanley Cup Playoff Action & Series Updates

The Carolina Hurricanes completed a sweep of the Philadelphia Flyers, winning 3-2 in overtime on Sunday when Jackson Blake tallied his second goal of the night, propelling the Hurricanes to an unblemished 8-0 start to the postseason. Meanwhile, Colorado bounced back from their first loss by defeating the Minnesota Wild 5-2 in Game, taking a commanding 3-1 lead in their Western Conference semifinal series. The Wild had previously leveled the series after Jesper Wallstedt anchored a 5-1 Game 3 victory in net, forcing the Avalanche to scratch starter Scott Wedgewood during their Game 3 defeat after he permitted three goals on just 12 shots in under 25 minutes of play when they pulled him.

Tensions escalated between the Colorado and Minnesota, as Wild center Michael McCarron publicly labeled Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson a 'dirty player' following a Monday night incident where Manson received a double-minor penalty for striking McCarron with the butt-end of his stick upon returning from a five-game absence. Further compounding the drama in Denver, star forward Nathan Mac Kinnon skated off bloodied after taking a puck off the face from a shot by teammate Devon Toews during the Game 4 victory. In the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Buffalo Sabres were set to face the Montreal Canadiens in Game 4 on Tuesday, with Buffalo deciding to reinstall Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen between the pipes after Montreal had reportedly found offensive rhythm, aiming for a potential 3-1 series advantage.

Contract News & Team Management

Amidst the playoff intensity, teams continued to shape their rosters for future seasons, with the Carolina Hurricanes securing Mark Jankowski on a two-year extension valued at an average annual amount of $1.85 million. In unrelated team business, Pittsburgh GM Kyle Dubas expressed willingness to retain veteran center Evgeni Malkin for a 21st season, stating he would "love" to have the longtime Penguin return next year. Separately, the Columbus Blue Jackets finalized a significant long-term commitment, signing center Charlie Coyle to a six-year contract carrying a total value of $36 million.

Player Recognition & League Matters

League-wide honors saw the announcement of the Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award finalists, with three U.S. and three Canadian nominees put forward for public voting until May 24, with winners revealed in June. On the individual performance front, Mitch Marner silenced postseason critics by netting a natural hat trick in a decisive Game 3 victory for the Golden Knights. Furthermore, the Hart Trophy race narrowed to three elite performers, with Connor McDavid, Nathan Mac Kinnon, and Nikita Kucherov named as the final three candidates for the league's MVP award.

Offseason Outlooks & Prospect Movement

As several teams contemplate their offseason strategies following elimination, attention turns toward the draft and player movement, with the Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews future remaining opaque despite Toronto winning the NHL draft lottery, according to an internal source. On the prospect front, Chicago Blackhawks prospect Roman Kantserov terminated his KHL contract, clearing his path to join the NHL team, while attention also focused on 2024's anticipated No. 1 selection, Gavin McKenna, whose journey from Yukon to Medicine Hat has positioned him as an elite prospect. the league also saw coverage regarding the legal proceedings related to the tragic deaths of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, as a judge upheld charges against the accused driver despite defense arguments concerning discrepancies in blood alcohol level reporting.