NHL Hockey 3 Days

Last updated: May 16, 2026, 5:45 PM ET

Western Conference Semifinals

The Colorado Avalanche staged a dramatic comeback in Game 5 against Minnesota, rallying from a three-goal deficit midway through the second period before Brett Kulak's overtime winner sealed a 4-3 victory and sent the Avs to the Western Conference finals. Colorado doubled its hits per game rate from the regular season, overwhelming a Wild team that was already depleted by injuries to defenseman Jonas Brodin and center Joel Eriksson Ek, who both suffered broken bones in their feet. Minnesota blew a three-goal first-period lead in that decisive game, with players describing the feeling as "empty" after the crushing series-ending collapse.

Meanwhile, the Vegas Golden Knights finished off the Anaheim Ducks in six games, with Mitch Marner setting the tone with a highlight-reel between-the-legs goal in the first period of a 5-1 victory. Pavel Dorofeyev scored his second goal of the game in overtime to give Vegas a 3-2 series lead in Game 5 before the Knights closed it out. Defenseman Brayden McNabb received a one-game suspension for an interference infraction that injured Ducks forward Ryan Poehling. The NHL also stripped Vegas of their second-round pick and fined coach John Tortorella $100,000 for the team's decision to avoid speaking to the media after their series-clinching win.

In a stunning move, the Edmonton Oilers fired coach Kris Knoblauch despite him leading the team to back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances in 2024 and 2025, with a contract extension that hadn't even begun yet. The decision drew criticism as a band-aid over deeper roster issues created by GM Stan Bowman.

Eastern Conference Semifinals

The Montreal Canadiens can close out their series against Buffalo on Saturday, holding a 3-2 series lead. The Sabres face goaltending questions following an ugly 6-3 loss in Game, with the issues resurfacing at the worst possible time. A freakish bank shot off the boards turned Tage Thompson's routine play into the most pivotal goal of Buffalo's Game 4 win, which evened the series at 2-2 on Tuesday night in Montreal.

Coaching and Front Office Moves

The Toronto Maple Leafs parted ways with head coach Craig Berube after two seasons, officially beginning their search for a new bench boss on Wednesday. The Vancouver Canucks hired Ryan Johnson as general manager while naming Daniel and Henrik Sedin co-presidents of hockey operations in a major front office restructuring announced Thursday. In Chicago, the Blackhawks signed KHL forward Roman Kantserov to a three-year deal following his record-breaking season in the Kontinental Hockey League.

Awards and Player Transactions

Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer became the first unanimous choice for the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's rookie of the year in 33 years. Meanwhile, Quinn Hughes said he is "definitely open" to signing a contract extension with the Minnesota Wild when he becomes eligible on July 1. The Wild's offseason plans will need to account for the injuries to Brodin and Eriksson Ek, with both players having suffered broken bones in their feet during the series against Colorado.

International Hockey

At the IIHF World Championship, Canada blanked Italy 6-0 with Macklin Celebrini scoring twice and adding an assist to improve to 2-0. Canada then held off Sweden 5-3 in their opening game Friday to start tournament play with two victories. The tournament also features projected top draft pick Gavin McKenna, whose path has taken him from Whitehorse, Yukon to Medicine Hat to Penn State, with the NHL expected to be his next stop.

PWHL News

The Professional Women's Hockey League awarded an expansion team to San Jose, bringing women's hockey to the San Francisco Bay Area as the league's fourth market. The PWHL also announced expansion to Las Vegas and Hamilton, Ontario, with one more site still to be determined to make it an even dozen teams. In Detroit, trailblazing goaltender Manon Rheaume was hired as general manager of the expansion team, carrying her pioneering women's hockey career into a front office role.

Around the League

Taylor Hall, the 2010 first-overall pick and 2018 Hart Trophy winner, has become a critical player for the Carolina Hurricanes, who have yet to lose in this postseason. With nearly two full rounds complete, the biggest lessons of the playoffs so far include the importance of depth, goaltending consistency, and the ability to adapt to physical play. The Avalanche and Golden Knights will face off in the Western Conference finals, with the winner representing the West in the Stanley Cup Final.