NHL Hockey 3 Days

Last updated: May 12, 2026, 11:30 PM ET

Stanley Cup Playoff Action & Series Updates

The Eastern Conference semifinals saw the Buffalo Sabres force a decisive Game 5 against the Canadiens, propelled by Zach Benson's power-play goal on his 21st birthday, securing a narrow 3-2 home victory on Tuesday night . The Sabres, who returned Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to the crease for Game, successfully neutralized Montreal's offensive rhythm, despite earlier analysis suggesting the Canadiens were favored to take a commanding 3-1 series lead, 24. In the West, the Colorado Avalanche bounced back from their first postseason defeat to defeat the Wild in Game, seizing a 3-1 series advantage as they aim to close out the matchup quickly.

Adversity continued to surface for Colorado after their Game 3 setback, where the team pulled starter Scott Wedgewood after he surrendered three goals on just 12 shots through 24 minutes of action against Minnesota . The fallout from the series physicality included a disciplinary action against an Avs defenseman, as Josh Manson was subsequently fined $5,000—the maximum allowable amount under the CBA—for striking Wild center Michael McCarron with the blunt end of his stick . McCarron, who previously labeled Manson a "dirty player" following the incident in Game, watched as Manson returned from a five-game absence to incur a double-minor penalty for the infraction. Furthermore, Avs star Nathan Mac Kinnon was briefly bloodied in the same Game 4 win after being struck in the face by a puck mishit from teammate Devon Toews .

Meanwhile, the Carolina Hurricanes completed a four-game sweep of the Flyers, advancing with an unblemished 8-0 start to the playoffs following a tight 3-2 overtime victory in Game, sealed by Jackson Blake's second goal of the night . The Hurricanes now await the victor of the Sabres-Canadiens series, while their own offensive production relies on veterans like the Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall, who is proving a critical asset in Carolina's undefeated run. Elsewhere in the West, Vegas Golden Knights forward Mitch Marner silenced critics of his past playoff performances by netting a natural hat trick during a Game 3 victory in his own series .

League Business & Personnel Moves

Front office decisions and player commitments dominated headlines outside of the playoff arenas this week. Pittsburgh Penguins General Manager Kyle Dubas expressed his strong desire to retain the franchise icon, stating he would "love" to see longtime center Evgeni Malkin return next season for what would be his 21st campaign with the organization . In contract news, the Columbus Blue Jackets secured center Charlie Coyle by inking him to a six-year contract extension valued at $36 million total, averaging $6 million annually . The Hurricanes also managed to retain depth, signing forward Mark Jankowski to a two-year extension carrying an average annual value of $1.85 million .

Further roster shuffling involves prospect movement, as the Chicago Blackhawks successfully terminated the KHL contract for top prospect Roman Kantserov, paving the way for his arrival to North America and potential NHL debut . Speculation remains high regarding other high-profile players, particularly Auston Matthews, whose future with the Maple Leafs remains ambiguous despite Toronto having recently secured the top selection in the upcoming NHL Draft lottery .

League Awards, Draft & International Play

The Hart Trophy race culminated with the announcement of the three finalists for the league's Most Valuable Player award: Connor McDavid, Nathan Mac Kinnon, and Nikita Kucherov were named as the leading candidates . On the international front, Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby committed to play for Team Canada in the upcoming men's world hockey championships, marking his fourth appearance in the tournament .

Off-ice recognition saw the league announce the finalists for the Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award, with voting open until May 24 for the three U.S. and three Canadian nominees. In anticipation of the draft, attention is already turning to top prospects, including Gavin McKenna, whose journey from Whitehorse, Yukon, to Penn State has positioned him as the expected No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft . Separately, the Professional Women's Hockey League's upcoming draft pool features 235 players, notably led by five members of the gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic team, including defender Caroline Harvey .

Off-Ice Legal Matters & Player Safety

Tragically, legal proceedings continued regarding the deaths of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau; attorneys for the driver accused in the incident unsuccessfully argued that the charges should be dismissed due to a reported discrepancy in blood alcohol level reporting . Meanwhile, the NHL saw disciplinary action taken in a separate ongoing series, though the incident involving Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb, who was tossed from Game 5 for a hard check into the boards on Ducks center Ryan Poehling, has not yet yielded further league suspension details.