NHL Hockey 3 Days

Last updated: May 22, 2026, 2:50 PM ET

Western Conference Finals

The Vegas Golden Knights opened their series against Colorado with a 4-2 victory in Game, as Dylan Coghlan scored his first playoff goal to spark the team's offense. Avalanche star defenseman Cale Makar has been ruled out for Game 2 with an upper-body injury that also kept him out of Game, leaving Colorado struggling to replace their Norris Trophy-winning player. The Avalanche hardly resembled the top-seeded team that rolled through the first two rounds, with coach Jared Bednar searching for answers after his team felt the trickle-down effect of losing their best defenseman. Colorado, who had yet to lose on home ice in the Stanley Cup playoffs entered Game 1 with home-ice advantage, now faces elimination without their star player as the series shifts to Las Vegas.

Eastern Conference Finals

The Montreal Canadiens pounced on the Hurricanes early, scoring four first-period goals to hand Carolina their first playoff loss of the postseason in a dominant Game 1 victory. The Canadiens' impressive performance came despite the Hurricanes having the longest layoff in NHL playoff history since 1919, going 11 full days without a game prior to the matchup. Carolina star defenseman Jaccob Slavin shouldered the responsibility for the uncharacteristic defensive disaster, acknowledging his role in the team's slow start. With the series shifting to Carolina for Game, the Canadiens look to continue their road warrior approach while the Hurricanes attempt to shake off rust and even the series.

International Play

At the ice hockey world championship, Canada extended their perfect record to 5-0 with a 3-1 victory over Slovenia, powered by Mark Scheifele who scored three goals including the game-winner 29 seconds into overtime in a 6-5 win over Norway. Meanwhile, the United States defeated Germany 4-3 in a shootout, with Ryan Leonard scoring the decisive penalty. In other international action, Austria and Norway posted victories as Hungary shut out Britain 5-0 for its first victory at this year's tournament.

Hockey Business & Transactions

The professional women's hockey landscape continues to expand with Meghan Duggan leaving her NHL position to become general manager of the PWHL's expansion franchise in Hamilton, Ontario. Duggan, a former U.S. Olympian, joins a league that is experiencing rapid growth after Montreal sealed their first PWHL title with a 4-0 victory over Ottawa in the Walter Cup Finals. The PWHL further expanded its footprint by adding a San Jose franchise, bringing the league to 12 teams total. In other transaction news, the Washington Capitals re-signed defenseman Timothy Liljegren to a two-year contract worth $6.5 million, while the Buffalo Sabres rewarded coach Lindy Ruff with a two-year extension after ending the team's league-leading 14-year postseason appearance drought.

Coaching Changes

The coaching carousel continued with several notable moves. The Vancouver Canucks fired first-year coach Adam Foote along with three assistants after compiling a 25-49-8 record in his lone season. In contrast, the New Jersey Devils confirmed that Sheldon Keefe will