NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 28, 2026
The Hurricanes are on the verge of advancing to the Stanley Cup Final, plus the latest on the Golden Knights, Avalanche, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: The Carolina Hurricanes are a game away from reaching the 2026 Stanley Cup Final after blanking the Montreal Canadiens 4-0 in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final.
Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen (NHL Images).
Frederik Andersen turned in an 18-save shutout while Sebastian Aho, Jordan Staal, and Logan Stankoven gave the Hurricanes a 3-0 lead in the first period, with Andrei Svechnikov scoring an empty-netter late in the third period. Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes stopped 39 of 42 shots.
The Hurricanes hold a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, and can wrap things up on home ice on Friday.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Andersen set a franchise record for the most playoff shutouts with five, but it was his teammates’ performance that gave him an easy night for the third straight game.
Carolina dominated the play with their high shot volume, their puck possession in the offensive zone, and their stifling defensive game. The frustration was getting to the Canadiens as they took six penalties to the Hurricanes’ two. Montreal fans weren’t pleased with their club’s lack of offense, chanting “shoot the puck” midway through the third period.
To be fair, the Hurricanes benefited from nearly two weeks off before this series after sweeping the Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers. Meanwhile, the Canadiens played grueling back-to-back seven-game series against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres.
Nevertheless, the Canes have been the better team after dropping a 6-2 decision in Game 1. They reached this stage because of their experience, their roster depth, and the hard lessons they learned from being swept from the 2023 Eastern Conference Final and bounced in five games from last year’s Conference Final, both times by the Florida Panthers.
The Hurricanes have become a highly conditioned, well-disciplined veteran team whose strong two-way game has stymied the young Canadiens, leaving the latter searching for answers as they face elimination on Friday. However, the physical and mental toll of the past three games could prove too much for the Habs to overcome.
LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL: Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart’s performance has been sensational during this postseason. However, his involvement as one of the players charged and subsequently acquitted of sexual assault last year would make him a controversial candidate for the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The leading candidate is Hart’s teammate Mitch Marner. If the Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup, it’ll likely be Marner taking home the Conn Smythe.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Proteau wondered what the future holds for Colorado Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland and head coach Jared Bednar following the disappointing end to a season in which they won the Presidents’ Trophy as the top regular-season team. Earlier this week, the Avs were swept from the Western Conference Final by the Golden Knights.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacFarland is a finalist for the NHL GM of the Year Award, but it’s rumored that he could be heading to the Nashville Predators to take over as their head of hockey operations. Meanwhile, Bednar’s critics believe it may be time for a change after nearly 10 years behind the Avalanche bench.
THE SCORE: Penn State winger Gavin McKenna said he would be “very honored” if the Toronto Maple Leafs select him with the first-overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. The 18-year-old McKenna isn’t assured of going first overall, but many experts consider him to be the top prospect in this year’s draft.
SPORTSNET: Jason Bukala considers Swedish forward Ivar Stenberg to be the top prospect in this year’s draft. The 18-year-old is often praised for his defensive game, but his offensive upside shouldn’t be ignored, especially based on his performance for Sweden in the IIHF World Championship, which has entered the quarterfinal round.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: McKenna is considered to have the best offensive skills among this year’s draft class, but Stenberg is believed to be the best all-around player. I’m guessing the Maple Leafs will select McKenna, but they also couldn’t go wrong with Stenberg.
Carolina is playing their game and this is what they excel at. After 3 disappointing conference finals oustings they could have restructured their roster, fired their coach, or change their style to better combat the teams like the panthers that they had trouble matching up against. Instead they tweaked, kept their core, their coach and system and are now 1 win away from a trip to the finals.
Some lessons may be taken from that for other clubs eh?
Initially I was thinking that the leafs will draft McKenna…but more and more i begin to think they take Ivar.
With his play at the world’s…and Sundin’s position with the club, he positive buzz about meetings with Mathews, I think now it will be Ivar who possibly maybe even probably will be of bigger impact to the NHL club out of the gates.
I think it may also benefit McKenna more by going elsewhere too.
And if that is the case then I think it adds more to the likelihood of San Jose moving that #2 pick.
Ah the intrigue
Carolina and Vegas for the cup Montreals done they look overwhelmed. Always in the conversation for players that eventually be part of bruins are of course Hagens, and Létourneau, but there’s another my Buddy has seen him play and says Cooper Simpson could be sleeper in all this out the three names he might be the fastest. In USHL last season he finished 2nd in scoring he has tremendous acceleration and has a rough edge to his game.
Once again, the Canes had to endure the many penalty worthy non-calls to bring this game to it’s conclusion.
Examples: Anderson made 3 punches to the head before he was finally called. The blatant interference to Ehlers. There were others.
Montreal is a dirty and frustrated team.
Day before yesterday I had an exchange on the theory that, the more shots on goal the greater the chances some go in.
Last night there were hundreds – if not a few thousand – among the faithful loudly sharing that thought … SHOOT THE PUCK!
The difference in the series so far now favours Carolina by a count of 134-64 – or an average of 33-16 per game.
Then gain, in the 4-game Vegas sweep of Colorado, the Avalanche held a 135 – 121 advantage over the Golden Knights for an average of34 – 30.
Clearly, it’s not an exact science
Even so …. SHOOT THE BLOODY PUCK! Lol.
The only reason Montreal is in the ECF is because they didn’t play Carolina sooner. I’ll give them credit, I didn’t think they’d beat Tampa or Buff. Young immature team and pretty soft defensively. But George, it’s not that they don’t want to shoot. It’s that they don’t know if they’ll get possession back for another 10 minutes. So they hold on to it looking for any opportunity. Remember those two 5 on 3’s the Sens had where they registered like…one shot. That’s getting into your opponents head.
I don’t know if this series is over, but it sure seems that way. Now we can stop talking about how the Sens had nothing to do with blocking the viewing party in Gatineau.
Also Lyle. I know it seems like it makes for good fodder but the less pushing of Vegas goalie talk here the better. There are clearly people who think very differently about the individual, the outcome and the truth. And you’ve got a pretty steady bunch of posters here who love to talk hockey. Just my thoughts on that.
The only reason Buffalo got to the conference semi-finals is that they didn’t play Montreal in the first round.
How about we just pretend Carter Hart doesn’t exist?
Or, maybe we can have Lyle preface any mention of him by the CBC-esque introduction: “this topic may offend sensitive viewers …” Perhaps we can add it to any mention of blocking viewing parties as well?
Just my thoughts …
Thanks for the advice about Carter Hart, Dark G, but I’ll decide what I post on my website. Cheers!
Completely agree. Habs are overwhelmed. Lucky to be where they are.
10/10 professional restraint.
Whenever I find myself screaming “shoot the puck” my wife reminds me of the attached video on you tube. We can thank Andrew Ference for this timeless video that gives us a chance to laugh at ourselves:)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5hDYg0uAuE
George where Vegas took it to Colorado was high danger or grade A chances even though they had fewer shots.
And Hart outplayed the Avs tenders by a wide margin.
Just to annoy HF30 XGF for the series was 14 – 11 in favor of Vegas. It finished 14-7.
Yes the vibe seems the same from both series now. When a team is able to shut the other down you can see the deflated spirit. You just need to tip your hat to the Canes and Vegas. When they say defence wins championships, they are not lying and both teams are blocking an insane number of shots and forechecking like madmen.
Looking back, I feel like Sens had probably had the best of it so far even though they got swept. They were missing especially their whole back end and were still able to generate a decent amount of shots. They forced Andersen into making a bunch of ridiculous saves.
It will be interesting after seeing Canes run through the East if Staois will change too much. One thing he might do is put Cozens on the top line after seeing him play so well on the wing with Crosby and Celibrini. He could then move Pinto to the second and have Greig for the third.
If Canes close out Habs on Friday who do you guys have between them and Vegas?
Owen, good point. Moving Cozens to a wing and elevating both Pinto and Greig one spot each could resolve the issue of more scoring punch from the wing position, thereby negating the necessity to give up assets in trade and reducing the shopping list to two – a back-up goalie and a bit more depth at the D position – both of which could be covered from the UFA list –
Skinner, Tarasov, Ingram or Vanecek in goal, and one of RD Andrew Peeke, RD Connor Murphy, LD Mario Ferraro, LD Jeremy Lauzon, or LD Carson Soucy.
Canes have added at the TD year after year and no results . This year nothing and they have a shot at the cup.
Habs first line is world class but drops off after that. You are not winning consistently with under 20 shots when the other team has over 40.
Not out of the realm of possibility that Mckenna drops to fourth If Canucks are set on Malhotra
Shades of Shane Wright!
The Canucks have 3OA and while they do need first line centre, they won’t waste the pick this year on a player who projects to be a 2C at best. They’re going to be crappy again this year and will be picking in the to 5 in the 2027 draft which is full of potential top line centres. This year they’ll take a potential top line winger or a potential top pairing D over a 2C/3C centre.
I am astounded by how often the Montreal defensemen (and Dobson in particularly) throw the puck blindly up the middle when handling the puck behind their own net. I’ve also noticed that Caufield, if not scoring, is turnover prone and easily ridden off the puck. Throw in their love of short touch passes inside their own blueline (turnovers), and Montreal looks done.
Yeah, PullingTheGoalie: while Carolina deserves full credit for a great game plan it is incomprehensible how Montreal couldn’t make a 20 foot (or less) pass to get the puck out of their own end. For the third straight game.
Yep: They are done.
But hey … wait until next year!!
And I would add, I agree with St. Louis, the ‘Canes have great sticks. Saves wear and tear on the body.
Young team mistakes, or Oiler’s this year mistakes.
Habs will improve on their decision making.
All part of growing up it seems.
The old Dodgers’ fans cry …. “wait til next year …”
That’s just youth. And it’s also the level of pressure put on them by the Canes. You need to know the next play before the one you’re playing. And they don’t have time and space to know.
This game is played the exact same way at every level. The only thing that changes is the speed at which it’s played. The people who play it and think it 11/10 speed (mcdavid, mckinnon) show that truth perfectly.
I coached a funsy 4 on 4 league one summer. I really just opened the door and let them on and off the ice. I had A players. AA players and a couple of AAA players. The speed with the puck was just….like shades of a colour. You could see it so plainly. Some of the AA’s could shoot like the AAA’s sure…..but choosing when…finding players who didn’t even know they were open…crazy.
back to the NHL. I’d bring Gallagher in for the next game. It might be his last, and he’s actually a pretty good ball of chaos still
Yeah, Dark G, bringing Gallagher back for the next game is a pretty good thought. It would surely be his last game as Hab, as I can see neither a Habs win nor him returning with them next year.
Yeah, Montreals D have their turnover problems. And is it just me, but where is Dobsons worth? I don’t see him making good decisions but I do notice his hacking and whacking when about to be beaten.
I felt that adding Dobson was an unnecessary move at the time. Or at least they would have been better served with a Dman whose strengths better contrast Hutson than being more akin to. Time will tell how it pans out longer term for Dobson and the Habs.
Not sure why Dobson is singled out here for poor play. He was a clear upgrade this year at a position the Habs really needed, RHD.
As for the playoffs, the Habs D have all been under siege by the ‘Canes forecheck. They aren’t getting help from their forwards, and every one of their D has made pressure applied mistakes. Remember Hutson’s mistake the previous game?
Folks also seem to be forgetting that Dobson injured his thumb during the second-last game of the regular season, when he was leading the league in blocked shots while sitting sixth among the Habs scorers with 47 points. I read on TVA Sports a couple of weeks ago that Dobson is wearing a special glove to protect his thumb, which obviously hasn’t fully healed yet. That explains why he hasn’t put up many points in this postseason, why he isn’t taking slapshots from the point, and why his defensive game may be hindered.
Thanks, Lyle for explaining Dobsons decline this season. Hopefully his injury is less detrimental to his golf game. (I could not help it)😉
Once the Canadians are eliminated on Friday, when would the Cup finals begin?
The earliest the finals can begin is next Wednesday, June 3 and could conceivably go from then until Sunday, June 21 if it were to go 7.
Let s give Montreal credit.They are definitely outclassed in this series but they have made great strides with their group. Players getting older and stronger and more depth needed throughout the lineup. Would like to see Gallagher get into the next game. He has been a good soldier for the organization.Remember at the end of the day,only one club goes home happy. The others regroup and plan immediately for the next season.
Thinking Gallagher becomes a cap casualty this summer. I would like to see them give him what may be his last hurrah.
Yep, if and when they bow out they’ll join 29 others immediately assessing what went wrong and how it can be corrected.
But, unlike about 25 others, they can look at what has been accomplished in winning 2 series and getting to a Conference finals.
I agree – insert Gallagher AND Xhekaj and drop Kapanen and Texier.
I’d like to see some changes in the lineup, often it doesn’t take much to change direction.
Kapanen in -Dach out
Xhekaj in Struble out
Gallagher in- Texier out
Evans off 2C and back where he belongs 3C or4C
Am I the only one who noticed Carolina had a 5 on 3 for almost 2 minutes and couldn’t score?
There are often games within games and I wonder what set off Danault to do what he did to Staal , cross checking him on the ice to make that 5 on 3.
Danault is rarely penalized, cool and calm player. He’s smart, a veteran who leads by example, something must have happened for him to do something so uncharacteristic.
He’s not the kind of player who gets frustrated or emotional, we’ll never know.
This game was a rinse and repeat with a 3 minute window of scoring.
I’m waiting for game 6 in Montreal.