NHL Hockey 3 Days

Last updated: May 13, 2026, 11:30 AM ET

Stanley Cup Playoff Action Heats Up

The Western Conference semifinal between the Colorado Avalanche and the Minnesota Wild saw the Avs regain control after a midseries dip, moving up 3-1 after snapping back to beat the Wild in Game 4 on Monday night. Colorado's physical play, which saw them double their regular-season hit rate, has opposing contenders concerned, though they dealt with internal adversity when star Nathan MacKinnon sustained a bloody nose from a puck in that same victory. Meanwhile, the series saw disciplinary action as Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson received the maximum $5,000 fine for a stick infraction against Wild center Michael McCarron, an incident McCarron later labeled Manson as "a dirty player". The series shifts back to Denver for Wednesday's pivotal Game, where betting models suggest the Avalanche shouldn't pass up the chance to close out the West semifinal on home ice.

In the Eastern Conference bracket, the Buffalo Sabres forced a decisive Game 5 against Montreal by evening their series at 2-2, propelled by a crucial Tuesday night victory where Zach Benson broke a tie on his 21st birthday with a third-period power-play goal in a 3-2 victory. That win came after a bizarre Game 4 goal, credited to Tage Thompson, resulted from a fluke bank shot off the boards that tied the game before Benson's decisive marker. The Sabres opted to return Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to the crease for that pivotal Tuesday contest, betting on their goaltender as they sought to erase the 2-1 series deficit the Canadiens held entering the night after Game. Despite Buffalo's recent success, the Montreal Canadiens remain favored to ultimately win the series, according to pre-Game 4 odds.

The Carolina Hurricanes delivered a dominant performance, completing a four-game sweep of the Flyers with a 3-2 overtime win on Monday, extending their perfect postseason start to an 8-0 run. Jackson Blake scored twice, including the game-winner just 5:28 into the extra session, to send the Hurricanes forward while maintaining the superlative playoff record for coach Rod Brind'Amour's squad after their sweep. In other Western showdowns, the Vegas Golden Knights took a crucial 3-2 series lead over the Ducks when Pavel Dorofeyev netted his second goal of the night in overtime at 4:10 of the extra period. However, Vegas also faced scrutiny after defenseman Brayden McNabb was ejected from that same Game 5 for a hard check into the boards that forced Ducks center Ryan Poehling to be helped off the ice after the first period hit.

League Management & Player Futures

Off the ice, the Toronto Maple Leafs made a significant coaching change, announcing the firing of Craig Berube on Wednesday after just two seasons at the helm, a move that comes as the future of top star Auston Matthews in Toronto remains unclear despite the team recently securing the top pick in the NHL draft lottery. The Penguins' General Manager, Kyle Dubas, expressed his desire to retain veteran center Evgeni Malkin, stating he would "love" to have the longtime star back for a 21st season with the franchise during Tuesday's announcements. Meanwhile, the Columbus Blue Jackets secured center Charlie Coyle, locking him down with a fresh six-year contract extension valued at $36 million, while the Hurricanes added depth by signing forward Mark Jankowski to a two-year deal averaging $1.85 million annually.

On the international stage, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is set to participate in the upcoming men's world hockey championships, marking his fourth appearance in the tournament for Team Canada. In league recognition news, the NHL announced the six finalists for the Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award, with voting open until May 24 for the three U.S. and three Canadian nominees. Furthermore, the league is preparing for the future, with top prospect Gavin McKenna—whose journey has taken him from Whitehorse to Penn State—expected to be the next No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft.

Business & Off-Ice Matters

The Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL announced significant expansion plans, adding new franchises in Las Vegas and Hamilton, Ontario, with a twelfth site still pending confirmation to round out a dozen teams. The league's inaugural draft class is particularly strong, headlined by five members of the U.S. Olympic gold medal-winning team, including defender Caroline Harvey, as the talent pool for the draft stands at 235 players. In legal news unrelated to current playoff action, attorneys for the accused driver in the fatal accident involving the Gaudreau brothers argued unsuccessfully for the dismissal of charges due to a reported discrepancy in blood alcohol level documentation.

Awards Watch & Player Narratives

The race for the league's highest individual honor is heating up, with Connor McDavid, Nathan Mac Kinnon, and Nikita Kucherov named as the three finalists for the Hart Trophy. In a dramatic turnaround narrative, Mitch Marner silenced critics of his past postseason performances by scoring a natural hat trick during the Golden Knights' Game 3 victory, effectively changing the narrative surrounding his play. Attention also turns to players finding their form late, such as Carolina's Taylor Hall, the 2018 Hart Trophy winner, who is reportedly rediscovering his MVP level and remains a critical component for the Hurricanes as they maintain their undefeated start to the postseason under coach Brind'Amour.