NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 26, 2026
The Hurricanes take a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference Final, plus the latest on the Avalanche, Golden Knights, Maple Leafs, Kings, and Oilers in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: An overtime goal by Andrei Svechnikov gave the Carolina Hurricanes a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final, and a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Carolina Hurricanes winger Andrei Svechnikov (NHL Images).
Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere opened the scoring in the first period. Mike Matheson tied it for the Canadiens later in the period, only to have the Hurricanes regain the lead less than a minute later on a goal by Taylor Hall. Lane Hutson tied it in the second period for the Canadiens, who saw a potential 3-2 lead in the third period overturned as a coach’s challenge by the Hurricanes revealed Cole Caufield was offside.
Game 4 is on Wednesday in Montreal at 8 pm ET.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was the second straight game that Carolina won in overtime by a score of 3-2. And for the second straight game, they outshot Montreal by a high volume, this time peppering Canadiens goalie Jakub Dobes with 38 shots while Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen faced only 13.
Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson blamed his turnover at his blueline for what led to Svechnikov’s game-winner. However, his club had two golden opportunities earlier in the overtime period to end it. Team captain Nick Suzuki had a breakaway but shot wide, while Matheson struck the crossbar later in the period.
The Canadiens were near the bottom of the league in shots on goal this season, a trend that has persisted during this postseason. Factor in the Hurricanes’ suffocating defensive play in Games 2 and 3, and it’s little wonder that the Habs have had difficulty scoring.
Experience is also favoring the Hurricanes. This is their third Conference Final in four years, and the hard lessons they learned from their early exits from those series have been on display in this matchup. If they maintain their sustained offensive zone pressure and their strong defensive play, they could take a commanding lead in the series on Wednesday and finish it at home in Game 5 on Friday.
THE DENVER POST: Everything that could go wrong has gone wrong for the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Final against the Vegas Golden Knights, putting them on the verge of elimination.
Vegas goaltender Carter Hart has outplayed Avalanche netminder Scott Wedgewood. The Golden Knights have played well defensively, and their top players are healthier and producing.
COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: The status of Avalanche forwards Nathan MacKinnon and Valeri Nichushkin remains uncertain after suffering injuries in Game 3. MacKinnon injured his knee after blocking a shot, hampering his performance for the rest of the game. Nichushkin suffered an upper-body injury that sidelined him for most of the third period.
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Shot blocking has been key to the Golden Knights’ shutting down the Avalanche’s vaunted offense. Defensemen Shea Theodore, Brayden McNabb, and Noah Hanifin are among this postseason’s leaders in block shots.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights can wrap up this series on Tuesday night.
SPORTSNET: Toronto Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka and senior executive advisor Mats Sundin had a positive meeting with team captain Auston Matthews to discuss their vision for the team.
Matthews has two seasons left on his contract, and there was uncertainty over his future with the Maple Leafs after they missed the playoffs this season. According to Elliotte Friedman, the Leafs captain indicated that he still wants to win in Toronto,
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The report indicated there are still more decisions to be made, but this initial meeting was positive, with nothing to suggest any concerns.
TSN: Speaking of the Maple Leafs, forward Max Domi is sidelined indefinitely following complications arising from off-season surgery. The club didn’t disclose the nature of the surgery on Monday, stating only that it was done to address a nagging issue. He will be re-evaluated at the start of training camp in September.
TSN: Los Angeles Kings general manager Ken Holland said his team must move on after the Golden Knights denied his club permission to speak with former head coach Bruce Cassidy. “I’ve been around the game a long time to know that if somebody’s decided that they don’t want to grant permission, they’ve negotiated that right and you move on.”
EDMONTON JOURNAL: The Oilers signed Finnish winger Aku Raty to a one-year, two-way contract worth $850,000.
I realize getting out-shot is often the norm where the Habs are concerned, and that their basic philosophy is, “it isn’t so much the number of shots as it is the quality thereof.”
OK – fair enough. But 38 – 13 over almost 4 periods of hockey, including two pp opportunities, following on the heels of a 12-shot performance, and being out-shot to date in the series by a count of 92-46, should be SOME cause for concern.
Brind’Amour, after seeing his team get burned by counter-attacks and breakaways in game 1, made adjustments that led to a tighter, much more disciplined approach in games 2 and 3, applying a constant aggressive fore-check and neutral-zone coverage, thereby forcing turnovers at the blue line rather than chasing pucks deep as they did in game 1. In short, they stopped chasing the speedier Habs.
So far, St. Louis doesn’t appear to have an answer, but he’d better come up with something quick.
Re “Shot blocking has been key to the Golden Knights’ shutting down the Avalanche’s vaunted offense. Defensemen Shea Theodore, Brayden McNabb, and Noah Hanifin are among this postseason’s leaders in block shots.”
The Hallmark of a Tortorella-coached team.
Even the Sedins learned shot-blocking under Tortorella.
You can see how useful it is by looking at Nathan MacKinnon today.
This series is starting to look more and more like what the Canes did in the first two rounds. Freddy Anderson doesn’t have to be good when the quality of shots is lousy and there’s hardly any of them. And if they get in Montreal’s head like they did Ottawa, it’ll be lights out in 5 games.
A couple day’s ago, johnny z came out swinging about Bolduc’s spear, which it was.
I wonder if he’s going to mention the couple head shots delivered by the canes.
Indeed, the Habs came out looking anemic, but I wonder if that has anything to do with the neutral zone trapping the canes style of play. Sure, the Habs could have played better, but, according to an article, the average Habs ticket during the playoffs is 1400$. Now, I don’t know about you, but paying that much to basically watch the devil’s of the 90’s trapping, thanks, no.
Crap hockey
But winning hockey. And in the end, those following such teams couldn’t care less how it was accomplished.
I agree to a certain point ,George.
Personally, I find it a very boring style. If ‘my’ team were to play that style, and if I knew better, I would honestly say, thanks, no thanks and find something better to do with those 3 hours.
Good on Carolina overcoming great goaltending and weak officiating to yet another win!
Speaking of weak.
Yet another weak comment.
I think you should clean your spectacles son.
when your two goals are being scored by defensemen and your goalie is assisting on one of them…I’d say your offence has been contained.
Adapt or be eliminated.
Personally I’m looking forward to hearing about Montreal less. Their fans are insufferable.
I’d like to see the Canes win, and Marner get MVP.