NHL Hockey 3 Days

Last updated: May 13, 2026, 5:30 AM ET

Stanley Cup Playoff Action Heats Up

The Western Conference semifinals saw the Vegas Golden Knights seize control of their series, as Pavel Dorofeyev netted his second goal of the night at 4:10 of overtime, securing a tight 3-2 victory over the Ducks and putting Vegas up 3-games-to-2. In the same conference, the Colorado Avalanche snapped back from their Game 3 loss by defeating the Wild in Game 4 on Monday, taking a commanding 3-1 series lead despite Nathan Mac Kinnon leaving the ice briefly with a bloody nose after being struck by a puck from teammate Devon Toews in the same victory. Meanwhile, disciplinary action followed the hard-hitting play in the series, as Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson was fined the maximum allowable $5,000 CBA limit for delivering a stick hit to Minnesota's Michael McCarron during Game 4, an action McCarron subsequently labeled as "dirty" in later comments.

The Eastern Conference series between the Sabres and the Canadiens featured dramatic parity, culminating in Buffalo evening their pivotal series at 2-2 on Tuesday night. Zach Benson, celebrating his 21st birthday, provided the decisive goal on a third-period power play in the 3-2 win, which followed a Game 4 where Buffalo went back to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in net to anchor the crucial win. The Sabres' victory was aided by a bizarre sequence in a prior contest, where a routine play by Tage Thompson resulted in a freak bank shot off the boards that proved pivotal in tying their series earlier. Elsewhere in the East, the Carolina Hurricanes completed a dominant four-game sweep of the Flyers, moving to an untarnished 8-0 in the postseason after Jackson Blake scored the overtime winner in Game 4 for a 3-2 final, maintaining the team's flawless run under coach Rod Brind'Amour.

Player Movement & Contract News

In significant off-ice developments, the Columbus Blue Jackets secured center Charlie Coyle by signing him to a fresh six-year contract extension valued at $36 million, providing stability to their middle six. The Pittsburgh Penguins leadership also expressed optimism regarding the roster's future, with GM Kyle Dubas stating he would "love" to see longtime star Evgeni Malkin return for a potential 21st season with the franchise next year. Furthermore, the Chicago Blackhawks are preparing to welcome top prospect Roman Kantserov, having successfully navigated his contract termination with the KHL, clearing his path to the NHL shortly.

International & Prospect Watch

Veteran leadership is set to join the international stage as Penguins captain Sidney Crosby will represent Team Canada at the upcoming men's world hockey championships, marking his fourth appearance in the tournament. On the prospect front, the focus is heavily on the 2025 draft class, where Gavin McKenna, whose journey has taken him from Whitehorse to Penn State, is widely expected to be the consensus No. 1 overall pick. In women's hockey news, the PWHL's upcoming draft pool, featuring 235 players, is anticipated to be led by five members of the victorious U.S. Olympic gold medal-winning team, including defender Caroline Harvey at the top of the class.

League Honors, Awards & Legal Matters

The league recognized contributions both on and off the ice, naming the three U.S. and three Canadian finalists for the Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award, with public voting now open until May 24 for the winners. On the awards front, the Hart Trophy finalists for MVP were confirmed as Connor McDavid, Nathan Mac Kinnon, and Nikita Kucherov for their regular season efforts. Meanwhile, former Hart winner Taylor Hall, who claimed the award in 2018, is reportedly finding his top form again as a vital component for the Hurricanes who remain undefeated this postseason. Separately, legal proceedings continued in the case involving the tragic deaths of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, as the judge upheld charges against the accused driver despite defense arguments concerning discrepancies in blood alcohol level reporting.