NHL Hockey 3 Days

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

Stanley Cup Playoff Action & Series Updates

The Vegas Golden Knights moved to the brink of the Western Conference Final after Pavel Dorofeyev scored his second goal in overtime, securing a narrow 3-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks to take a commanding 3-2 series lead. Adding complication to the matchup, Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb was assessed a one-game suspension for an interference infraction that sidelined Ducks forward Ryan Poehling, meaning the Knights will be shorthanded heading into Game. Elsewhere in the West, the Colorado Avalanche demonstrated championship mettle, bouncing back to down the Minnesota Wild in Game 4 and seizing a 3-1 advantage in their series. The Avs have dramatically ramped up their aggressive style, doubling their regular-season hit rate, a physical escalation that has fellow contenders on high alert.

The Eastern Conference saw the Buffalo Sabres force parity in their semifinal series, tying it 2-2 against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night. The pivotal goal for Buffalo came via Tage Thompson, whose routine play resulted in a freakish bank shot off the boards, while Zach Benson also contributed a power-play tally on his 21st birthday to seal the 3-2 win. The Sabres opted to stick with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen between the pipes for Game, despite Montreal reportedly finding an offensive rhythm that had them favored to take a 3-1 series lead earlier in the week. Meanwhile, the Carolina Hurricanes maintained their perfect postseason record, relying on veteran contributions like former Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall as they await the victor from the Buffalo-Montreal matchup.

Player & Team Personnel Moves

The Toronto Maple Leafs initiated major offseason changes by officially parting ways with head coach Craig Berube after just two seasons, a move that follows a pattern of regression in Toronto and signals the franchise faces numerous critical decisions In player contract news, the Columbus Blue Jackets secured center Charlie Coyle with a new six-year contract valued at $36 million, while the Hurricanes locked up forward Mark Jankowski to a two-year extension averaging $1.85 million annually. On the injury front, Avalanche star Nathan Mac Kinnon was forced to leave Monday's Game 4 after taking a puck to the face, though he did return to action after receiving treatment for a bloody nose.

In the award circuit, Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer was named the NHL's top rookie, becoming the first unanimous Calder Trophy winner in 33 years. Furthermore, Penguins GM Kyle Dubas expressed a strong desire to retain longtime center Evgeni Malkin, stating he would "love to have Malkin back next season" for what would be his 21st year in Pittsburgh. Sidney Crosby is set to represent the nation, as the Penguins superstar will join Team Canada for the upcoming men's world hockey championships for his fourth appearance in the tournament.

League Structure & Off-Ice Developments

The Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) is charting significant growth, announcing expansions into Las Vegas and Hamilton, bringing the league count to eleven teams with one final site yet to be determined to reach a full dozen franchises. The upcoming PWHL draft pool features 235 players, prominently led by five gold medalists from the U.S. Olympic team, including defender Caroline Harvey. Separately, the league recognized community contributions by announcing the six finalists for the Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award, with voting open until May 24.

In prospect news, the focus is already turning toward the next draft, where Gavin McKenna is projected as the expected No. 1 pick, chronicling his path from Whitehorse, Yukon, through Medicine Hat and Penn State before his anticipated NHL debut. Regarding disciplinary action, Avs defenseman Josh Manson was fined the maximum allowable $5,000 under the CBA for a stick infraction against Wild center Michael McCarron, an incident McCarron later labeled Manson as a "dirty playeras a "". Finally, off-ice legal matters continue for the family of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, as a judge upheld the charges against the accused driver in the fatal crash, dismissing arguments related to a discrepancy in BAC reportinga.

Betting & Promotional Markets

Sportsbooks are actively promoting large bonus offers ahead of Wednesday's slate of games across the NBA, MLB, and NHL. Bettors can access $100 in bonus bets instantly from Draft Kings after placing a minimal $5 wager, while Bet MGM is offering a substantial risk-free incentive of up to $1,500 in bonus bets if the initial wager loses. Experts from the Sports Line Projection Model and CBS Sports provided their analysis for Wednesday's fixtures, including the Wild vs. Avalanche contest, alongside specific player prop recommendations like backing Sabres right wing Alex Tuch for Tuesday's playoff action.