NHL Hockey 3 Days

Last updated: May 23, 2026, 2:47 PM ET

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS UPSET

The Montreal Canadiens completed a stunning road playoff sweep by capturing Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals with a 3-1 victory in Carolina, handing the Hurricanes their first home loss of the postseason. The Canadiens, who have won all nine of their road games in the 2026 playoffs, bounced back from a slow start to dominate the final 40 minutes. Star defenseman Jaccob Slavin shouldered blame for the loss, calling his own performance "uncharacteristically poor" after a critical turnover led to the go-ahead goal. The result sets up a pivotal Game 2 as the Canadiens, seven wins from the Stanley Cup, look to take a commanding 2-0 series lead.

INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT SHOCKERS

The ice hockey world championship delivered major upsets, beginning with Latvia stunning the United States 4-2. Sandis Vilmanis scored two empty-net goals to sink the defending champions, marking their third loss of the tournament. In contrast, Canada remained perfect at 5-0 with a 3-1 victory over Slovenia, while the United States rebounded with a 4-3 shootout win over Germany. Earlier in the week, Mark Scheifele’s overtime heroics propelled Canada to a 6-5 win over Norway, showcasing the high-octane offense dominating the Prague-Ostrava event.

AVALANCHE’S WESTERN CONFERENCE STRUGGLES

Colorado’s Western Conference finals got off to a frustrating start as the Avalanche dropped Game 2 3-1 to Vegas, lamenting a series of missed chances after taking an early 1-0 lead. Coach Jared Bednar cited a lack of execution on prime opportunities, while Cale Makar’s lingering injury continues to loom large over Colorado’s offense. The Golden Knights, meanwhile, seized control of the series by winning both home games, with the model predicting a tight contest in Game 3 as the Avalanche’s power play remains stalled.

OFF-ICE MOVEMENTS & RECORD SALES

In memorabilia news, an autographed 1979 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky rookie card shattered records by selling for $540,000, the highest price ever paid for a signed hockey card. Front offices saw movement as the Buffalo Sabres rewarded Lindy Ruff with a two-year extension after ending a 14-year playoff drought, while the PWHL’s Seattle Torrent fired coach Steve O’Rourke after a last-place finish in their inaugural season. The league also filled its final GM vacancies, appointing Meghan Duggan in Hamilton and Troy Ryan in San Jose.