NHL Hockey 3 Days

Last updated: May 22, 2026, 8:52 PM ET

Conference Finals Shake Up

The Golden Knights seized home-ice advantage in the Western Conference finals with a 4-2 victory over the Avalanche in Game, a result that grew more decisive when Colorado announced star defenseman Cale Makar would miss Game 2 due to an upper-body injury. Dylan Coghlan scored his first playoff goal to spark Vegas, while Carter Hart turned aside 36 shots. The Avalanche now face a significant realignment, as Makar’s absence creates a "trickle-down effect" on their defensive pairings and top power-play unit. Despite the loss, Colorado’s home dominance persists—they were the only remaining playoff team undefeated at home. In the East, the Montreal Canadiens continued their road warrior act, stunning the Hurricanes 4-0 in Game 1 by scoring four times in the first period against a Carolina team that showed clear rust after an 11-day layoff, the longest since 1919. Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis’s aggressive start paid off immediately, and the early barrage set the tone for a dominant performance. Hurricanes captain Jaccob Slavin took responsibility, stating he "handed Montreal the game" with a critical turnover.

PWHL Executive Reshuffling & Championship

Off the ice, the PWHL saw major front-office moves as Seattle Torrent fired head coach Steve O'Rourke after a last-place finish in their inaugural season. The league filled its final two expansion team GM vacancies on Friday, hiring Meghan Duggan for Hamilton and Troy Ryan for San Jose. This comes as the Montreal Victoire completed a dominant run to the Walter Cup, capturing their first PWHL title with a 4-0 shutout of the Ottawa Charge in Game, fueled by two goals from Abby Roque.

World Championship Highlights & NHL Notes

At the IIHF World Championship, Canada remained perfect at 5-0 following a 3-1 victory over Slovenia, with Mark Scheifele scoring the overtime winner 29 seconds in against Norway just a day prior. The United States also stayed alive with a 4-3 shootout win over Germany, where Ryan Leonard netted the decisive penalty. Domestically, the Buffalo Sabres rewarded Lindy Ruff with a two-year extension after he ended a league-record 14-year playoff drought. The Anaheim Ducks, meanwhile, announced Troy Terry will undergo hip surgery, casting uncertainty on his availability for next season’s start. In free agency, the Washington Capitals re-signed defenseman Timothy Liljegren to a two-year, $6.5 million deal. The New York Islanders also revealed their AHL affiliate in Hamilton will be dubbed the "Hamilton Hammers."

Betting Landscape & Market Reaction

The betting market was saturated with promotional activity, as multiple outlets pushed identical offers from Bet MGM and Draft Kings for the concurrent NBA and NHL playoff games. Analysts noted the overlap created a noisy marketplace, with the same $1,500 bonus bet offers and $100 instant bonuses repeated across platforms for games involving the Thunder, Spurs, Cavaliers, Knicks, Canadiens, Hurricanes, and Avalanche-Golden Knights matchups.

Collectible Milestone & Conn Smythe Watch

A 1979 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky rookie card autographed by the "Great One" sold for a record $540,000 at auction, the highest price ever for a signed hockey card. With four teams left, the Conn Smythe Trophy race is wide open, with several legitimate candidates emerging from both conference finalists.