NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 19, 2026
The Canadiens advance to the Eastern Conference Final, plus the latest on Sidney Crosby, Filip Gustavsson, Mark Stone, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: An overtime goal by Alex Newhook gave the Montreal Canadiens a 3-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres in Game 7 of their second-round series.
Montreal Canadiens forward Alex Newhook (NHL Images)
The Canadiens took a 2-0 lead in the first period on goals by Phillip Danault and Zachary Bolduc. However, the Sabres dominated the next two periods, with Jordan Greenway and Rasmus Dahlin scoring to force overtime.
Jakub Dobes was once again the hero for the Canadiens with a 37-save performance. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 22 shots for the Sabres.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens will face the well-rested Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final with Game 1 starting on Thursday, May 21, at 8 pm ET.
With an average age of 25.8, the Canadiens are the youngest team to advance to the Conference Finals since the 1992-93 Canadiens, whose average age was also 25.8.
Dobes joined Canadiens Hall of Famer Ken Dryden as the only two rookie goalies in NHL history to win two Game Sevens on the road in the same postseason. Newhook became the second player in playoff history to score the winning goal in multiple Game Sevens in the same playoff year. Nathan Horton was the first to accomplish that feat, doing so with the 2010-11 Boston Bruins.
This was a hard-fought, entertaining series between two rising powers in the Eastern Conference. It may not be the last time they face each other in postseason competition in the next several years.
Dobes was spectacular again in consecutive Game 7 situations, holding the fort as the Sabres came at him in waves. The Canadiens went into a defensive shell after the first period, and it nearly cost them, but Dobes was the difference.
Buffalo was the better team after the first period, so this loss will be tough to take after battling back from a 3-2 series deficit to come up short in overtime. Nevertheless, their fans cheered their performance after this game.
How this series ended won’t define the Sabres. Their rise this season indicates that their years in the wilderness are finally over. They’re a force to be reckoned with in the Eastern Conference, and they will attempt to build on this season’s successful campaign.
SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Sidney Crosby pushed for Macklin Celebrini to remain the team captain when he joined Canada’s roster for the 2026 IIHF World Championship.
Celebrini had been named captain before the Stanley Cup Playoffs began. Team Canada’s management made a courtesy call to Crosby after his Pittsburgh Penguins were eliminated from the opening round, but were surprised when the 38-year-old center agreed to join the club.
“When Sid came, he was adamant that Mack remain the captain,” Canadian GM Brad Treliving said. “At the same time, Mack was adamant that Sid be the captain.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The issue was resolved with Celebrini remaining as captain and Crosby named as an alternate captain.
TWINCITIES.COM: Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin said starting goaltender Filip Gustavsson will undergo hip surgery in the coming weeks. He won’t know until after the surgery if the 28-year-old Gustavsson will be ready for the start of the season. The injury is considered to be the cause of normal wear and tear for an NHL goalie.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The nagging injury explains the decline in Gustavsson’s performance since the Olympic break.
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone and defenseman Jeremy Lauzon are expected to be game-day decisions for Game 1 of the Western Conference Final against the Colorado Avalanche.
TSN: The Edmonton Oilers are expected to have a formal interview with former Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube. They’re still awaiting permission from the Golden Knights to interview their former bench boss, Bruce Cassidy.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was rumored that the Golden Knights had granted permission to the Los Angeles Kings to speak with Cassidy. However, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports they haven’t permitted any club to talk to their former head coach.
SPORTSNET: Speaking of the Maple Leafs, they’ve reached out to University of Denver head coach David Carle.
Congrats to the Sabres. You give me hope for the Blue Jackets. Maybe we’ll face off in next year’s playoffs.
In 2019 Binnington was a rookie and won game 7 against Dallas in the second round and won game 7 in the SCF. Did the author of the article mean that Dryden and Dobes are the only Montreal rookie goalies to accomplish that feat.
Hi, Snold49. The error was mine. It should’ve read that Dobes and Dryden are the only rookie goalies to win multiple Game sevens on the road. I’ve corrected it. Thanks for point it out. Cheers!
The news on Gustavsson should at least have the effect of removing the name Wallstedt from persistent rumours that Guerin could/will deal the young goalie in his pursuit of a Top 1 or 2 Center.
For now.
That hurts Guerin a bit…. his best offseason trade chip to improve was likely one of the goalies.
Welp. The last team worth rooting for (for me) is out. Officially don’t care who wins at this point. Man. Those Buffalo fans deserve a title. Maybe the bills get them one.
The Leafs may indeed have “reached out” to David Carle and, if so, it wouldn’t be the first time an NHL team explored his availability. However, this is what the Web has to say about the chances of his accepting an NHL job. Anywhere.
“There is currently no clear indication that Carle is eager to leave his collegiate post, and it remains a big question mark whether the timing is right for him to jump to the NHL.
Reports from NHL insiders highlight several hurdles that could prevent him from taking the job:
• Family Priorities: Carle has a young family and places a heavy emphasis on their needs. Relocating them is believed to be a major sticking point, and he has turned down NHL opportunities in the past specifically due to family considerations.
• The Denver Situation: He is in an extremely comfortable and prestigious position at the University of Denver, where he recently guided the Pioneers to their third NCAA title in five years and signed a multi-year contract extension.
• NHL Leverage: When NHL teams come calling, it is understood that he commands a hefty salary—potentially upwards of $4 million to $5 million annually—and is believed to require a strong voice in assistant coaching hires and roster construction.
•
The Toronto Maple Leafs have used Sportsnet to confirm that preliminary conversations took place to gauge his interest. However, insiders like Elliotte Friedman caution that this remains an exploratory phase, and that it would likely take a monumental offer and deep structural commitments to pull him out of the NCAA.”
But, I guess it doesn’t cost anything to check.
I love that reasoning for remaining where he is George (if accurate)
If not even the prestigious maple leafs can get you to leave a comfortable situation. Good on ya.
The rest of the coaches mentioned are re-tread and also rans. Even Cassidy’s success are rooted mostly in pre-built teams needing final guidance. He’s not as good as everyone thinks. And i’m an Ottawa guy.
I agree on Cassidy.
Another little alarm bell on Carle is the thought that he requires “a strong voice in assistant coaching hires and roster construction.
Who his assistant coaches would be is a given – most coaching hires get that green light. But not every – if any – coach has “a strong” voice on roster construction.
Amazing game last night. Once again the Habs find a way to win, a mark of growth for a young team.
Carolina will be a heavy favorite and will probably win. They’re well rested while the Habs have been through two tough series. And the Canes have more playoff experience. But it won’t be a cakewalk. The Habs are battle hardened now and are playing with house money. All the pressure will be on the Canes.
I suppose they found a way to win Howard.
I prefer the phrase their goalie won it for them in game 7 again.
Dobes being mentioned with Ken Dryden when discussing rookie goalies and playoff heroics.
Just great.
Can Dobes carry them against Carolina as well? Of course he can. I wouldn’t bet the farm on it, but this fairytale rookie goalie crap seems to happen in Montreal from time to time.
Wait, maybe ghosts are real?
I’m starting to really dislike the Habs again, so I suppose all is well in the hockey world. Keeps me watching.
Go Canes go!
Amen Howard.
Go Habs Go (oooops, allez Habs allez)
I noticed that, during the regular season, Montreal went 3-0 against Carolina.
The Canes will be a tough out but the Habs have come through two seven-game series so they’ve handled everything so far.
The Habs are ranked 24th in shots on goal and are frequently outshot, however the team is ranked 1st on shooting percentage, which partially explains why they can win ugly.
Outshot again but also had 4 clear breakaways that they didn’t score on, it’s the system of bend but don’t break then strike fast. Buffalo pressed most of the game yet when the Habs would break out it was Sabres caught up ice.
Carolina is interesting:
Habs swept the season series
Habs had more power play goals
Habs had more short-handed goals
Habs had better shooting %
Habs had better face-off %
Both teams have similar D but Carolina is older and slower dealing with the up tempo Hab quicker play and passing making different lanes.
I think that stylistically the Habs pose a much bigger challenge to Carolina than people realize.
Carolina would stifle the Habs a few years ago but the Habs have totally changed and can handle it now.
And, let us not the two posts Anderson hit in succession.
But the Habs continue to run essentially with 5 D. That runs the risk of exhausting them, or an injury. Why dress Xhejak and play him for two whole minutes? This can’t go on.
Ray: Yeah, never mind the 4 missed breakaways and the two Anderson posts late in the game, Dobes was the difference.
But I don’t understand why people say the goalie made the difference inferring it was an upset. Dahlin had what, 5 points in game 6 and was clearly the difference and there was no inference that except for him the Sabres were outplayed.
Not suggesting you meant this Ray, just pushing back on the inference that is often repeated. As the late Pat Burns once said: when is the goalie not part of the team?
But I do enjoy your rebuilding dislike of the Habs!
And, just to get this off my chest:
Zucker runs over Dobes in the crease. Habs fan or hater, that’s a penalty all day long. Beyond comprehension, no penalty. The next play, the Sabres tie the game.
I think preseason doesn’t matter too much, tbh. The Flyers won 3-0 against the habs this season, but the canes beat them pretty handedly. Like many series, it’s hard to predict until both teams face one anther and who can make the changes necessary when facing a loss (which I guess Canes haven’t yet). Dobes has been excelent when coming back from a loss which is great. The habs will need a high shooting % as they had a hard time generating shots against their last two opponents, and I feel like they’ll even have a harder time against a well rested and hungry Canes team..
Regarding your issue with the Dobes check, LJ, he probably gets a call if he doesn’t fully embellish that hit…looked like a soccer player there. I feel the refs have been looking out for that a bit with the habs over the last few games.
Should be a good series.
LJ, I think the reason people say Dobes won it for them, or any other tender in that situation is that the Sabres outshot them by a wide margin(38-24) , out chanced them by a wide margin (42-31), the grade A chances favored Buffalo by a wide margin (20-15).
XGF were 5.1 to 2.86 in favor of Buffalo.
The skaters/rest of the team, 18 players, are responsible for all those results, and yes the breakaways and posts are included in the chances and grade A’s.
The difference was goaltending and Montreal won that one. The most important one, this time around.
Hence, Dobes was the difference. The data matched what we saw.
It wasn’t like that in every game in this series, but it was in this one. And overall in the series Buffalo generated more than they gave up. Montreal had a better save % and shooting %.
Same was true vs TB.
Usually these types of #’s lead to losing more than you win, which is why teams use analytics, to measure themselves. They know the math too.
The million $ question is if it is sustainable into the next round and beyond. If your a betting man, usually it isn’t. But it does happen. Tenders sometimes stay hot.
And yes Dobes embellished. And yes the refs missed/didn’t call penalties against the Sabres too. They put their whistles away in a game 7, go figure.
RB,
Not to say I told you so….but I told you so.
Before the series even began I gave you the situation of how the teams played, how Montreal gets out shot but convert with more frequency.
I said they can’t bang the Habs D effectively because they are too mobile.
I said Buffalo D is slow, Stanley was pulled and so was Schenn , their big acquisitions to try and get more speed and they got caught out of position regularly.
Buffalo took to running Dobes, their D in Habs crease, literally tried pushing him into the net with the puck.
There was a comical scene of Dobes keeping his flat leg and skate on the post with Hutson dropping behind him in the net, setting his stick on Dobes blade from behind while a Sabre was trying to push him in (no call of course)
This game was more about frustration than domination, hail mary shots followed by a scrum that failed most of the night.
Regarding Zucker non-call I think Dobes tried to sell it and officials won’t “reward” that. The refs did let Suzuki get away with scolding him and slapping him in the face as the “penalty”
It’s funny but one way you can tell it doesn’t throw Dobes or the Habs off their game is how they don’t try running UPL.
Hey HF30, it might keep working for Montreal, it has in the past. You’re right it’s how they played all year. They’re used to getting outshot/out chanced, it’s how they roll.
Defend the fort, counter punch, and bury your chances at a high rate. Vegas plays a bit like that lately. Plus they block a lot of shots as does MTL.
Buffalo’s chances were real, and they happened often, not necessarily how you described it. Rebound chances, slot chances, etc. They had the puck 2/3’s of the time and got the puck to home plate when MTL collapsed to the net. It’s how you have to in that situation. Semantics I guess.
All I know is the cup winner and final participants are usually near the top of the league in XGF and XGA at 5 vs 5 during the regular season. I think 4 of the last 5 winners were top 5 in both. That is just reality, the pattern repeats itself.
3 of the 4 teams remaining are good at both. Montreal is not.
XGF – COL # 1, CAR #2, Veg #11 & MTL #19
XGA – VEG #2, COL #5, CAR #8, MTL #23.
Your right sh% and sv % are what is keeping Montreal moving along.
For arguments sake I would pick the pattern that usually wins, regardless of what teams are playing. Hence the betting lines reflect it. COL favored, CAR next.
So if you really believe the Habs keep it rolling, you can make some $$.
And don’t look now but the sometimes maligned Alex Newhook is quietly playing himself into serious Conn Smythe consideration.
We’ll see of course but aside from life beyond analytics, which is one arrow in the quiver, there’s how teams match up head to head.
For example, Ottawa gives the Habs a tougher time all year and they are the one team I didn’t want to face.
Carolina was easy this year compared to the other teams. Styles and gameplan matter as does consistent goaltending, Andersen is anything but. He’s been hot and this waiting for the next series isn’t going to help him at all.
More importantly as a lifelong Hab fan, we’re playing with house money now.
I am not a stats fan, Ray. I can’t dispute your recollection that XGF is a significant factor in outcome.
But what I can say is that dominating XGF and losing = failure to execute. At its simplest, if you don’t bury your chances, how well have you really played? Not trying to be snide, but the game is decided on goals for and against, not on shot or chance dominance. My Old School is probably showing.
You are showing your age LJ! But I’m old too, not sure who’s older?
I just a data/evidence guy, and not afraid to bet on occasion. Luv playing poker which requires knowing the probabilities. Full house wins more than it loses, but bad beats happen every game.
I’ll keep betting the full house, regardless what others are betting because it wins the majority of the time.
Another similarity to poker is that, most of the money you’ll win at poker comes not from the brilliance of your own play, but from the ineptitude of your opponent.
Saw a stat on Twitter that since 2000 there have been 8 teams coming off a game 7 playoff win and moved on to face a team coming off a sweep.
The 8 teams coming off game 7 have wins: They are 7-1 against the teams coming off the sweep.
Maybe the rust/rest factor hurts these teams that sit so long.
I can def see Montreal pulling out a game 1 win just on emotion alone.
Hope it turns out to be a good series like the Buffalo one.
Yep. 32 years is long enough and it would be fitting if it was they that ended the drought.
Sabres are loaded with young forwards and their D core top 4 is only getting better imho
Helenius is still a rookie. Kulich was on the IR.
Ostlund is a rookie.
They still have pieces to trade for a goalie.
Imagine Hellebuyck in Buffalo!
The canes have had too long of a rest I think they’ll be rusty which will give the Habs a chance to win a game or two.
Canes in six
Col in seven
Agree on the winners John.
Not sure which has a bigger impact in Canes/Hab series, rust or an emotional/intensity let down after another game 7 win. I’m going with the Canes come out flying and take game 1.
Canes in 5
Avs in 5
Cream continues to rise.
Sets up battle of the titans in cup final.
When was the last time the top 2 teams in the regular season met in the SCF?
Could have been recently, just doesn’t seem like it and not gonna bother checking my memory.
I think Vegas wins, tbh. Avs look a little beat up, especially Makar. You know Torts game plan will be to punish that shoulder.
With the Canes and Habs, I’m not so sure, but I feel like the Canes might pull it off, but Dobes has been stellar….so the goaltending and some opportunistic scoring might be enough to get Habs through. I expect a very low scoring affair in the east, which might be better for the habs.
Well, if “rust” IS going to be a factor – and I agree it could well be – since they’ll be at their “rustiest” in the first couple of games, if the Habs jump out to a 2-0 series lead on the road, the Canes had better become TOTALLY dominant the rest of the way.
As a bit of historical (hysterical??) background to teams coming off opening series sweeps. in 1992 Chicago won 4 straight against the Red Wings and Oilers before being swept themselves by Pittsburgh in the Cup finals.