NHL Hockey 3 Days

Last updated: May 21, 2026, 5:58 AM ET

PWHL Crown & Expansion

The Montreal Victoire captured the inaugural Professional Women's Hockey League title with a dominant 4-0 shutout of the Ottawa Charge in Game 4 of the Walter Cup Finals, propelled by Abby Roque's two-goal performance Montreal wins first PWHL title. The franchise's first championship caps a breakthrough season for the league, which completed a four-team expansion this week with San Jose joining as the 12th club PWHL expands to San Jose. The growth of the league into California signals its accelerating commercial momentum heading into the off-season.

Western Conference Finals Shake-Up

The Vegas Golden Knights opened the Western Conference finals with a 4-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday, erasing any aura of invincibility around the top-seeded Avs Golden Knights open West finals. Dylan Coghlan scored his first playoff goal to ignite Vegas, while Carter Hart stopped 36 shots in a commanding outing. Colorado's troubles deepened after defenseman Cale Makar missed the game with an upper-body injury that had already kept him out of practice on Tuesday Makar out of Game 1, and the Avalanche's struggles in a 4-2 loss to Vegas hardly resembled the team that had swept through the first two rounds Avs struggle without Makar. Analysts noted that Colorado had yet to lose on home ice in the Stanley Cup playoffs, setting up a tense atmosphere for the series opener Colorado's home playoff record. With the puck dropping on the penultimate round clashes, experts weighed in on the four remaining clubs heading into the semifinal round Stanley Cup playoff picks. Vegas coach John Tortorella faces additional pressure after the NHL stripped the Golden Knights of their second-round pick and fined him $100,000 for the team's refusal to speak to the media after its previous series-clinching win VGK media freeze fine.

Eastern Conference Final Set

The Stanley Cup's final four now feature two Western juggernauts and two Eastern contenders as the Carolina Hurricanes prepare to host the Montreal Canadiens in their Eastern Conference Final, scheduled to begin Thursday Eastern Conference Final preview. The Hurricanes, who swept their first two playoff series, will have gone 11 full days without a game before tipping off against Montreal, the longest layoff since 1919 Canes' historic layoff. Multiple NHL teams are reportedly waiting to interview Bruce Cassidy, though the Vegas Golden Knights have not yet granted permission for any club to approach him Cassidy interview blocked. Meanwhile, Sports Line's model has produced its own projections for the conference finals as just four teams remain standing Conference finals picks.

Sabres End Historic Season

The Buffalo Sabres were eliminated from the playoffs by the Montreal Canadiens in a dramatic 3-2 overtime Game 7 on Monday, with Alex Newhook scoring his second Game 7-winning goal of the postseason Sabres fall in Game 7. Despite the loss, the franchise received a standing ovation after its most successful campaign in years, ending a league-leading 14-year playoff drought Sabres end drought. Coach Lindy Ruff received a two-year contract extension in recognition of that achievement. Forward Alex Tuch, 30, emerged as a disappointment in the second round and will hit free agency this summer, though his agent insists his struggles won't affect his next deal Tuch free agency outlook. Sabres defenseman Timothy Liljegren was re-signed to a two-year, $6.5 million deal on Wednesday Liljegren re-signed.

International Hockey

At the ice hockey world championship in Switzerland, the United States defeated Germany 4-3 in a shootout on Wednesday, with Ryan Leonard converting the decisive penalty U.S. tops Germany. Canada continued its strong start to the tournament with a 5-1 rout of Denmark, powered by Sidney Crosby's four assists, and a 6-0 blanking of Italy in which Macklin Celebrini scored twice Canada routs Denmark. On Tuesday, Hungary posted a 5-0 shutout of Britain in its first win of the tournament, while Austria and Norway also recorded victories Tournament results.

Offseason Moves

The Minnesota Wild are eyeing a significant offseason, with star defenseman Quinn Hughes saying he is "definitely open" to a contract extension beginning July 1 Hughes open to extension, though starting goalie Filip Gustavsson will undergo hip surgery that could delay his availability for training camp Gustavsson hip surgery. New Jersey confirmed that Sheldon Keefe will return as coach after new general manager Sunny Mehta completed his organizational assessment Keefe returns as coach. The Vancouver Canucks fired first-year coach Adam Foote and three assistants on Tuesday after a 25-49-8 record Canucks fire Foote. In a piece of hockey history, a ring given to Herb Brooks, coach of the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" Olympic team, sold for $549,000 at auction Brooks ring auction.