NHL Hockey 3 Days

Last updated: May 20, 2026, 5:52 AM ET

Playoff Race Narrows to Four

The Stanley Cup Playoffs trimmed the field to four after a dramatic second round, with the Avalanche and Golden Knights setting up a Western Conference final and the Hurricanes and Canadiens squaring off in the East. Colorado will host Vegas in Game 1 of the West finals, with oddsmakers closely watching defenseman Cale Makar, who sat out practice on Tuesday on the eve of the series opener. Makar's availability looms large after he missed time earlier in the postseason. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights remain in the spotlight after the NHL stripped them of their second-round pick and fined coach John Tortorella $100,000 for a media blackout following their series-clinching win. On the coaching front, multiple NHL teams are waiting to interview Bruce Cassidy, but Vegas has not yet granted permission for any club to talk with him, according to sources, adding another layer of intrigue ahead of the West finals. Sports Line's model has produced picks for Wednesday's opener, with analysts weighing both matchups as the bracket tightens toward the Cup Final.

Second Round Wrap-Up and Sabres' Historic Run

The second round produced unforgettable moments, none more so than Montreal's 3-2 overtime victory over Buffalo in Game, where Alex Newhook scored his second Game 7-winning goal of the postseason. The Canadiens' series win ended Buffalo's remarkable renaissance season, which began with enormous promise and concluded with an emotional send-off after a standing ovation from fans. According to Sports Line's analysis, Mitch Marner dominated while Alex Tuch essentially vanished in the second round, with Tuch's struggles likely not affecting his looming free agency value, per his agent Scott Bartlett. The Sabres, despite the loss, left the ice proud of how far the franchise had come. Buffalo's defeat also cleared the path for the Hurricanes-Canadiens Eastern Conference final, which Sports Line NHL analyst Scott Erskine previewed as a marquee series heading into Thursday.

Coaching Shakeup Carousel

A wave of coaching changes rippled through the league in the aftermath of the playoffs. The Canucks fired first-year coach Adam Foote along with three assistants after a 25-49-8 record, accelerating Vancouver's rebuild. In Edmonton, the Oilers parted ways with Kris Knoblauch despite back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances in 2024 and 2025 and a contract extension that had not even begun. Over in New Jersey, new general manager Sunny Mehta cleared Sheldon Keefe to remain as head coach after conducting the full organizational assessment he promised upon taking the job. The flurry of moves suggests clubs are moving swiftly to align coaching staffs with the post-season realities of their rosters.

Wild Offseason Outlook

Minnesota's offseason priorities are coming into focus as general manager Chris Drury maps out the summer. Star defenseman Quinn Hughes, eligible to sign an extension July 1, said he is "definitely open" to a deal that would keep him in Minnesota. Goalie Filip Gustavsson, however, will undergo offseason hip surgery, casting doubt on his availability for the start of training camp. The Wild's postseason was further complicated by injuries to defenseman Jonas Brodin and center Joel Eriksson Ek, both sidelined with broken bones in their feet during the second-round series against Colorado. The combination of roster health questions and cap constraints will make Minnesota one of the most active teams at the draft and in free agency this summer.

World Championship Snapshot

Across the Atlantic, the IIHF World Championship in Switzerland produced several storylines for NHL players. Canada improved to 2-0 with a 6-0 blanking of Italy, powered by Macklin Celebrini's two goals and an assist. On Monday, Canada routed Denmark 5-1 behind Sidney Crosby's four assists, including five goals in the final period. The U.S. defending champions rebounded from a loss to Switzerland with a 5-1 win over Britain, while Hungary shut out tournament newcomer Britain 5-0 in its first victory of the tournament. The event has given several NHL-bound prospects, including Gavin McKenna, whose journey from Whitehorse to Penn State has drawn NHL attention, extended exposure on the international stage.

League Expansion and Memorabilia

The women's game continued its growth trajectory as the Professional Women's Hockey League added San Jose as its 12th franchise, completing a four-team expansion that signals the league's ambitions to expand its footprint on the West Coast. On the collectibles front, a ring given to Herb Brooks after the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" sold for $549,000 at Heritage Auctions, reminding fans of hockey's enduring cultural legacy even as the modern game evolves at a rapid pace.