NHL Hockey 3 Days

Last updated: May 20, 2026, 11:56 AM ET

Stanley Cup Conference Finals

The Avalanche host the Golden Knights in Game 1 of the Western Conference final Wednesday, with Colorado yet to lose on home ice during these Stanley Cup playoffs. The Avalanche will be without star defenseman Cale Makar for Game 1 after he sat out another practice session Tuesday, raising concerns about his availability for the opening clash. Meanwhile, Sports Line's model has provided predictions for the Avalanche-Golden Knights series, with Colorado maintaining home-ice advantage throughout the postseason. In the East, the Canadiens advanced to face the Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference final starting Thursday after defeating the Sabres in overtime in Game 7 on Monday night. Alex Newhook scored the winner in overtime, his second Game 7-winning goal of the postseason, despite Buffalo's strong performance that earned them a standing ovation for their historic campaign.

Playoff Analysis & Coaching Changes

The rebuilding Canucks fired first-year head coach Adam Foote and three assistants Tuesday after compiling a 25-49-8 record, part of a series of coaching changes around the league. In New Jersey, the Devils confirmed Sheldon Keefe will return as coach after new general manager Sunny Mehta completed his evaluation of the organization. The Golden Knights face scrutiny as multiple NHL teams await permission to interview Bruce Cassidy, who remains under contract with Vegas. Meanwhile, the league stripped the Golden Knights 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 over Dallas. In Buffalo, despite their second-round series loss to Montreal, the Sabres received praise for their franchise's "giant step" forward during the postseason.

International Hockey Update

Canada dominated Denmark at the ice hockey world championship in Switzerland, scoring five goals in the final period with Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby assisting on four of them in a 5-1 victory. The Canadians continued their strong play with a 6-0 victory over Italy as prospect Macklin Celebrini scored twice and added an assist, improving Canada to 2-0 in the tournament. Elsewhere at the world championship, Hungary shut out Britain 5-0 for its first victory at this year's tournament, while Austria and Norway also posted victories. In memorabilia news, a ring given to Herb Brooks, the coach of the 1980 United States "Miracle on Ice" Olympic team, recently sold for $549,000 at Heritage Auctions.

Offseason Moves & Betting

The Wild's Filip Gustavsson will undergo offseason hip surgery, putting his readiness for training camp in question. Despite his struggles in the Sabres' second-round series loss to Montreal, forward Alex Tuch's agent assured teams his client's performance won't affect his upcoming free agency negotiations this summer. In Minnesota, star defenseman Quinn Hughes expressed openness to signing a contract extension with the Wild, eligible to begin negotiations July 1. The PWHL completed its expansion with the addition of San Jose as the league's 12th team, bringing the total number of franchises to double digits. For bettors, Sports Line experts have provided picks and predictions as just four teams remain standing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, while Bet MGM offers a $1,500 bonus code CBSSPORTS for first-time bettors on NBA, NHL, and MLB games Wednesday, including the Avalanche-Golden Knights matchup. Draft Kings similarly provides $100 in bonus bets after a $5 wager for the same slate of games.