NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 18, 2026
The Canadiens and Sabres prepare to face off in Game 7 of their second-round series, the Hurricanes set a playoff record, the front office changes continue for the Maple Leafs, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: The Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens face off in the seventh and deciding game of their second-round series on Monday night in Buffalo at 7:30 pm ET. The winner advances to face the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final.
THE ATHLETIC: Matthew Fairburn and Arpon Basu examined the key storylines to watch for in Game 7.
Montreal Canadiens winger Juraj Slafkovsky (NHL Images).
One storyline will be whether Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis shuffles his lines after maintaining continuity in this series. Basu believes Juraj Slafkovsky may be dealing with an injury after watching his performance in Game 6, noting that he had no strength on his stick, was knocked off the puck easily, and had difficulty with his puck handling.
For the Sabres, Fairburn believes the Sabres goaltending has become a concern. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon have been inconsistent in this series, which could become a factor in this critical seventh game.
The Canadiens have experience in this situation, having eliminated the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7 during the first round. Several of their players, including team captain Nick Suzuki and high-scoring winger Cole Caufield, were also part of the Habs that eliminated the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games in their 2021 first-round series.
Meanwhile, the Sabres could have the most to lose in this series. While the Canadiens would carry the sting of blowing a 3-2 series lead into the summer, their young roster core will remain intact for next season. This could be the last opportunity for this current Sabres core, given Alex Tuch’s UFA eligibility and the trade rumors that have swirled about Bowen Byram since last season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Whatever the outcome, the Canadiens and Sabres have provided their fans with an entertaining postseason series. They’ve served notice that they are rising forces in the Eastern Conference. This might not be the last time these two clubs meet in the playoffs over the next several years.
DAILY FACEOFF: The Hurricanes have set a modern NHL playoff record for the longest wait between series. They have 11 days off between the end of Game 4 of their second-round series against the Philadelphia Flyers and the start of the Eastern Conference Final.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes will be well-rested and fully recovered from the bumps, bruises, and injuries suffered during the first two rounds. Given how quickly they dispatched Ottawa and Philadelphia, and their first-overall place in the Eastern Conference regular-season standings, they will be considered the favorites to win the Conference Final.
However, the long layoff will leave the Hurricanes rusty for the first game or two. Their opponent must strike quickly in those contests to garner an early series advantage before the experienced Canes inevitably regain their form.
TORONTO SUN: Front office changes for the Maple Leafs continued Sunday as assistant general managers Brandon Pridham and Derek Clancey left the organization.
Pridham had been with the Maple Leafs since 2014, playing a major role as a salary-cap expert in managing the club’s salary-cap payroll. Clancey spent the past three seasons as the assistant GM of player personnel. He’d previously spent 14 seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins’ organization.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Given their resumes, both men shouldn’t have much difficulty landing jobs with other NHL clubs.
COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: The Avalanche got some good news as defensemen Josh Manson and Sam Malkinski were full participants during Sunday’s practice. Both were among several Avs nursing injuries.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Andre Leal listed all the fines and suspensions handed out thus far during the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The most notable was Vegas Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella being fined $100,000 and the Golden Knights being forced to forfeit their second-round pick in this year’s draft for flagrant violations of the league’s regulations following their series-ending victory over the Anaheim Ducks last week.
Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy received the biggest punishment handed down to a player. He will serve a six-game suspension starting next season for slashing Buffalo Sabres winger Zach Benson during Game 6 of their first-round series.
Over the course of the season the Hurricanes averaged 31 shots on goal and 24 shots on goal against while scoring an average of 3.6 goals per game and allowing 2.9.
In dispatching Ottawa and Philadelphia in the minimum 8 games they averaged 35 shots on goal while allowing 25 while scoring an average of 2.9 goals per game and allowing 1.3.
What were the “flagrant violations” that vegas committed? I didn’t follow it? I am more concerned about how the Avalanche can beat them
Impressive buffalo effort in game 6. However, wouldn’t be surprised if the Canadians win either. Both teams have been bad defensively. So, to me it’s anybody’s. Game 7. Stay out of the box!!! Good series though very entertaining.
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/golden-knights-lose-draft-pick-tortorella-fined-after-skipping-press-conference/
Take your pick either Buffalo or Montreal,but neither as well as Carolina I believe is in the class of Vegas or Colorado!
Sr. I don’t think we can put Vegas in the same class as Colorado. Yes, they finished 1st in the Pacific with a 39 36 17 95 pts record and a +15 goals differential … but not one team in that Division would have qualified for the playoffs in the East.
Their record was also a significant drop of 15 pts from the results of 2024-25 when their goals differential was a +56.
So give Colorado the cup now!Because no one is in their class!
There are 2 teams Carolina hasn’t beaten head to head this year:
0-2 St. Louis
0-3 Montreal
I’m fully confident of Habs winning tonight to take the series. regular season record was 2-2, so no surprise to go 7 though I admit I called Habs in 6.
Playoff hockey is different of course, Habs won the games with VGK and split against Colorado.
Both teams have been very entertaining and both deserve to win. Fans of either teams ought to be proud and excited for the future that lays ahead for both.
I personally don’t care who wins but since I’ll be watching, I’m hoping for some OT and a heck of a game.
I wish I could share your confidence, HF30, not so sure.
And what is better, Slavkovski injured or still making brain fart plays?
Part of my thinking is that well before playoffs started my goal for the Habs was to get into the second round, gain experience and information about who is a keeper and what positions need to be strengthened, without the fatigue accrued in round 3.
That may sound like I am rationalizing a loss, but those have been my thoughts. As Lyle has noted, both the Sabres and the Habs could find overall success in a loss tonight.
Keepers going forward: Suzuki’s line, Demidov, Anderson, and probably Newhook. Top 4 D. Hage as a prospect. Everyone else is available.
Not that my opinion matters but you will probably find me more receptive to trade suggestions going forward. The problem remains that a lot of teams want a 2C, so seller’s market.
As a comment regarding the Leafs recently serving more waking papers, I think both AGM removed, were really good and somewhat simple choices. Pridham for example was instrumental to the Leafs managing their cap under the past CBA, one he helped write. A new CBA has been ratified and many of the loopholes his CBA had are now shut…essentially, what made him so effective to perform his job is gone and makes sense to cut an expensive and redundant job. With Clancey, I’m surprised it took this long. Being a Tre hire and has been quoted as saying not being a numbers guy is all you need to know, plus he never did anything worthy being mentioned or given credit for anything.
Anyone else read the story regarding the Owen Sound Attack being the first franchise in the Canadian Hockey League owned by a private equity group?
Smallest team, richest owners, profit first mentality. 🍿🍿🍿
Article if interested: https://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/news/local-news/private-equity-enters-the-chl-as-fund-purchases-the-owen-sound-attack
The Habs deserve a lot of credit for their run in the playoffs. They are truly punching above their weight class and have been getting results except for their last game. I have absolute faith that tonight’s game will be close and well worth the price of admission. Will Dobes recover and styme the Sabers? Will Tage and Rasmus lead their team again to a victory? Will MSL play Laine in place of the injured Spakovsky? A bit too far……..😄
Who is Spakovsky?
Dizzy Dean would have been satisfied with that spelling … and pronunciation :),
I would have loved to have heard his comments if someone named Xhekaj had ever appeared in MLB and he had never heard the pronunciation before!