NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 21, 2026

by | May 21, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 21, 2026

The Golden Knights take Game 1 of the Western Conference Final, the latest on the Canadiens and Hurricanes, Sidney Crosby sheds light on his future, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

STANLEY CUP PLAYOFF NEWS

NHL.COM: The Vegas Golden Knights took the first game of the Western Conference Final by holding off the Colorado Avalanche 4-2.

Vegas Golden Knights winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).

Carter Hart made 36 saves, Pavel Dorofeyev tallied his 10th goal of this postseason, Jack Eichel got his 15th assist, and Mitch Marner got his 19th point for the Golden Knights as they lead all playoff scorers in those categories. Brett Howden also scored to extend his road game goal streak to six games.

Valeri Nichushkin and Gabriel Landeskog rallied the Avalanche to cut the Golden Knights’ lead to 3-2 before Nic Dowd iced the victory for Vegas with an empty-net goal.

Game 2 is Friday in Denver, starting at 8 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is the first time the Avalanche have trailed in this postseason, having swept the Los Angeles Kings and eliminated the Minnesota Wild in five games.

The absence of superstar defenseman Cale Makar was a factor in the Avs’ loss to the Golden Knights. He’s been nursing a suspected shoulder injury throughout this postseason. Makar is listed as day-to-day and could return for Game 2.

Avalanche forward Artturi Lehkonen returned to the lineup after missing the last two games of the second round with an upper-body injury.

Golden Knights captain Mark Stone missed this game as he’s been sidelined with a lower-body injury since Game 3 of their second-round series against the Anaheim Ducks. However, he skated with the scratches during the optional skate on Wednesday, suggesting he could return to action at some point in this series.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: The Canadiens must shoot more often if they hope to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final, which begins on Thursday in Raleigh at 8 pm ET. The Habs have mustered the second-lowest shots-per-game (25.1) among the 16 postseason clubs, while the Hurricanes are the leaders with 33.9.

TVA SPORTS: Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis missed practice yesterday for family reasons, but he will be behind their bench for the opening game of the Eastern Conference Final.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Ryan Henkel listed five ways the Hurricanes can defeat the Canadiens and advance to the Stanley Cup Final.

Getting more production from the top line of Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, and Seth Jarvis is the most crucial. The trio has yet to combine for an even-strength goal in this postseason thus far and had only six high-danger scoring chances through the first two rounds.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The second line of Taylor Hall, Logan Stankoven, and Jackson Blake has carried the offensive load thus far for the Hurricanes. They’ve provided this club with the secondary scoring punch that they lacked in their recent postseason appearances. If the Aho line gets going, the Hurricanes will be a more formidable opponent.

IN OTHER HEADLINES…

THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe reports Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby put to rest any thought of retirement once his contract expires at the end of next season.

“Not at all,” Crosby said when asked if next season would be his last. “I said year to year because of where the team is at.” He explained that it made sense for salary-cap flexibility. It didn’t mean that he would consider retirement at the end of each season.

The 38-year-old Penguins captain laughed when asked if he could play another five years. “That would be nice,” he replied. He added that he wants to keep playing for as many years as possible.

Crosby is currently playing for Canada in the IIHF World Championship in Switzerland.

NHL.COM: The National Hockey League was named the League of the Year by Sports Business Journal. It is being honored during a year when it has expanded its global footprint, with record attendance, soaring revenue, a collective bargaining agreement through 2030, and an $11 billion media rights deal with Rogers Communications in Canada.

BUFFALO HOCKEY BEAT: The Sabres signed head coach Lindy Ruff to a two-year contract extension. Ruff guided the Sabres to their first playoff berth since 2010-11, and their first postseason victory since 2006-07.

WKBW’s Matthew Bove reports Sabres forward Tage Thompson said he was dealing with some lower-body injuries during the postseason.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Washington Capitals signed defenseman Timothy Liljegren to a two-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $3.25 million.

NEW YORK POST: The Sabres’ elimination from the second round of the playoffs has secured the Rangers the 26th overall pick in the first round of this year’s draft. The pick originally belonged to the Dallas Stars and was acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes in the K’Andre Miller trade last summer. The Rangers also hold the fifth-overall pick in this draft.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The New York Islanders reached an affiliation agreement with the ECHL’s Trenton Ironhawks.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Former Blue Jackets radio and TV color analyst Bill Davidge passed away at age 72. He began his career with the Blue Jackets as a scout in 1999 and transitioned to broadcasting in 2000 until his retirement in 2019.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Davidge’s family, his former broadcasting partners, and the Blue Jackets organization.










2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs – Conference Finals Predictions

by | May 20, 2026

2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs – Conference Finals Predictions

My colleagues and I at Bleacher Report recently made our predictions for the Conference Finals of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The following are my selections. You can see the full staff list by following this link, and feel free to make your predictions in the comments section below.

The Carolina Hurricanes swept the Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers to reach the Eastern Conference Final. The Montréal Canadiens eliminated the Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres in seven games each.

Led by Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Lane Hutson, Montréal has a slight offensive advantage, with a 3.07 goals-per-game average compared to Carolina’s 3.00. However, the Hurricanes’ second line of Taylor Hall, Logan Stankoven, and Jackson Blake gives them the additional firepower they’ve lacked in previous postseasons.

Frederik Andersen has gone the distance thus far for the Hurricanes, leading all goaltenders with a 1.12 goals-against average and a .950 save percentage. Jakub Dobeš has started every game for the Canadiens, with a 2.52 GAA and .910 SP.

Carolina’s deep defense corps has allowed the second-fewest shots against per game (25.1), while Montréal is seventh in that category with 28.7. The Canadiens’ blue line is led by the game-changing puck-mover Hutson, but the Hurricanes have the experience advantage, led by defensive stalwart Jaccob Slavin.

The Canadiens have the edge on the power play with a 25.0 percent success rate compared to the Hurricanes’ 13.5 percent. However, the latter has the second-best penalty-killing percentage (95.0) in this postseason, with the Canadiens a distant 74.1.

While the young Canadiens have taken their fans on a wonderful postseason run thus far, the Hurricanes’ experience, their solid defense, and Andersen’s goaltending will make the difference in this one.

Prediction: Hurricanes in 6

The Colorado Avalanche reached this stage by sweeping the Los Angeles Kings and eliminating the Minnesota Wild in five games. The Golden Knights dispatched the Utah Mammoth and Anaheim Ducks each in six games.

Colorado possesses a deep roster with superstar Nathan MacKinnon and winger Martin Necas leading their offensive attack. They lead all postseason clubs with a 4.11 goals per game average.

All-Star defenseman Cale Makar anchors the Avs’ blue line, but an upper-body injury hampered him during the Wild series. That could become a factor if he hasn’t fully recovered for this series.

Goaltending became a concern as Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood had some difficulty against the Wild. Nevertheless, the Avalanche’s 2.56 goals-against per game ranked fifth among postseason clubs.

Golden Knights winger Mitch Marner has silenced critics of his postseason play, leading all playoff performers with 18 points. Young winger Pavel Dorofeyev has a playoff-leading nine goals, and Jack Eichel leads with 14 assists.

Center William Karlsson returned from a long absence due to injury, but captain Mark Stone missed the final three games of the Ducks series. Goaltender Carter Hart has been solid between the pipes thus far, with the Golden Knights sitting just behind the Avalanche with a 2.58 goals-against per game.

Both clubs are pretty much even with the man advantage, with Vegas’ power-play percentage of 25.7 just ahead of Colorado’s 25 percent. However, the Golden Knights have been better at killing penalties, with a kill percentage of 86.8 compared to the Avalanche’s 79.3.

What could tilt this series against the Golden Knights is that they faced inexperienced competition from the Mammoth and Ducks, who were making their first postseason appearances in years. The Avs had short series with the Kings and Wild, but both were experienced playoff clubs.

The Golden Knights have the talent to pull off an upset, but the Avalanche’s depth should make the difference here.

Prediction: Avalanche in 6.










NHL Rumor Mill – May 20, 2026

by | May 20, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – May 20, 2026

Check out the latest on the Sabres, Flyers, and Golden Knights in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST SABRES SPECULATION

THE ATHLETIC: Matthew Fairburn believes the Buffalo Sabres have a big summer ahead if they want to build on this season’s success.

Re-signing Alex Tuch will be the biggest roster issue facing the Sabres. Meeting his asking price could require making some moves to free up some salary-cap space.

Forward Beck Malenstyn is also an unrestricted free agent, while Zach Benson and Peyton Krebs are restricted free agents.

Defenseman Bowen Byram is a year away from UFA status and eligible to sign a contract extension on July 1.

Buffalo Sabres winger Alex Tuch (NHL Images)

Fairburn noted that Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen showed his willingness to attempt to make big moves with his pursuit of St. Louis Blues defenseman Colton Parayko and center Robert Thomas.

Kekalainen could pursue a goaltending upgrade if an opportunity arises this summer. He could also try to bring in another center.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: As I noted yesterday, it’s rumored that Tuch’s camp seeks a deal comparable to the eight-year, $85 million contract ($10.625 million annual average value) that Adrian Kempe signed with the Los Angeles Kings last fall.

Fairburn noted that the Sabres enter the offseason with $12.9 million in salary cap space for 2026-27. A new contract for Tuch will eat up most of that and would result in a couple of cost-cutting moves.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Jonathan Bailey noted that Daily Faceoff’s Jeff Marek recently claimed that the Sabres could part ways with young goaltender Devon Levi. Bailey suggested the Philadelphia Flyers should look into acquiring the 24-year-old netminder.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Levi was a college star who made a promising debut with the Sabres in 2022-23, but struggled to crack their roster full-time. Maybe Kekalainen would include him in a trade package for a center.

UPDATE ON THE FLYERS

THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz looked at who could stay or go for the Philadelphia Flyers during the offseason.

Sophomore winger Matvei Michkov and winger Owen Tippett are among the players Kurz believes won’t be moved unless it’s in a blockbuster trade. Others in the category include Jamie Drysdale, Noah Cates, and Tyson Foerster.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Michkov and Tippett surfaced in trade rumors this season. I expect they (and the others on that list) will be back in the Flyers’ lineup this fall.

Defensemen Rasmus Ristolainen and forward Garnet Hathaway are among those who could be pushed out if the Flyers make additions via trades or free agency this summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ristolainen was a fixture in the rumor mill for the past three seasons, but the Flyers held onto him. Barring a significant addition that would an upgrade on the blueline, it’s doubtful he’ll be moved this summer.

DAILY FACEOFF: Anthony Di Marco looked at what it could cost the Flyers to sign goaltender Dan Vladar to a contract extension.

Team sources claim the club is comfortable with a five-year deal worth slightly south of $6 million annually. If Vladar seeks closer to $7 million annually, a three-year deal might make sense for both sides.

Di Marco also claimed that the Flyers remain uncertain about what direction they’ll go with backup Samuel Ersson. If they decide to move on, Joseph Woll of the Toronto Maple Leafs is a goalie they like.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Vladar finally got the chance to be a full-time starting goalie when the Flyers signed him to his current two-year contract. He played a major role in the club exceeding expectations and reaching the playoffs. Both sides will get something done to their mutual satisfaction that ensures he sticks around for at least another three years after next season.

COULD GOLDEN KNIGHTS WINGER PAVEL DOROFEYEV RECEIVE AN OFFER SHEET?

THE ATHLETIC: Shayna Goldman and Jesse Granger suggested that Pavel Dorofeyev’s scoring exploits in this postseason could make him the target for an offer sheet this summer.

The 25-year-old winger is completing a two-year contract with an AAV of $1.835 million. He has arbitration rights this summer. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights’ limited salary cap space could make Dorofeyev an enticing offer-sheet target for clubs seeking scoring depth.

A two-time 35-plus goal scorer, Dorofeyev could get a two-year deal with an AAV of $6.75 million. A six-year extension could reach $8.99 million annually, and an eight-year deal around $9.14.

The Golden Knights have about $11.7 million in projected salary-cap space. They must also re-sign pending UFA defenseman Rasmus Andersson, who was acquired from the Calgary Flames in January. It could cost a combined $16 million to retain Dorofeyev and Andersson.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Goldman and Granger are taking into account the $8.8 million that will be available with Alex Pietrangelo on LTIR. The Golden Knights could find themselves having to shed salary to re-sign Dorofeyev and Andersson or risk losing the former to an offer sheet and the latter to free agency.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 20, 2026

by | May 20, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 20, 2026

The latest on the Avalanche and Golden Knights before Game 1 of the Western Conference Final, reaction to the Canucks firing head coach Adam Foote, the Devils to retain coach Sheldon Keefe, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Game 1 of the Western Conference Final between the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights begins on Wednesday, May 20, at 8 pm ET in Denver.

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (NHL Images)

The Avalanche enter this series with superstar defenseman Cale Makar’s status for Game 1 uncertain. He missed his third consecutive practice on Tuesday, sparking speculation that he’s dealing with an injury. Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said he’s not concerned yet about Makar’s status for the series-opening contest.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Makar’s absence, even for one game, would be a challenging adjustment for the Avalanche. Even if he plays, his performance could be hampered by this possible injury.

TSN: The NHL Coaches’ Association is closely monitoring the situation involving former Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy.

The Golden Knights fired Cassidy late in the regular season, replacing him with John Tortorella on an interim basis. The Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings recently asked the Golden Knights for permission to speak with Cassidy, but they’ve yet to do so.

Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon confirmed that teams have asked for permission to speak with Cassidy.

“We’ve been consistent that our focus currently is on the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the teams have respected that,” McCrimmon said. “I’ve spoken with Bruce. He understands it, as well.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cassidy remains under contract with the Golden Knights, who are within their rights to grant or deny permission to clubs that are interested in hiring him.

However, McCrimmon’s excuse doesn’t hold water. The Golden Knights have had almost a week off between playoff series, giving him plenty of time to consider whether he’ll grant permission to those clubs to speak with Cassidy.

SPORTSNET: The Golden Knights lost their appeal for breaking the league’s media access rules following Game 6 of their second-round series with the Anaheim Ducks. Head coach John Tortorella was fined $100,000, and the Golden Knights will lose their second-round draft pick in this year’s draft.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The league has had enough of Tortorella’s battles with the media and with the Golden Knights for ignoring previous warnings about violating the media access rules.

These shenanigans have robbed the Golden Knights of positive coverage for their upcoming series with the Avalanche.

THE SCORE: The Vancouver Canucks fired head coach Adam Foote on Tuesday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Foote was promoted from assistant coach to bench boss last year when Rick Tocchet departed for the Philadelphia Flyers. He faced huge obstacles this season that would’ve challenged even the most experienced head coach.

Manny Malholtra could be the favorite to take over from Foote. He’s currently the head coach of their farm team in Abbotsford. He also has NHL experience as an assistant coach with the Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs.

TSN: Former Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch isn’t expected to pursue a new coaching job for the time being. He was recently fired after the Oilers were eliminated from the playoffs by the Anaheim Ducks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Knoblauch can afford to take his time and consider his future. He’s under contract with the Oilers for the next three seasons.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Sheldon Keefe will return as the Devils’ head coach, but he will need a couple of new assistants. Goaltending coach Dave Rogalski was relieved of his duties, while Sergei Brylin will be taking on a new role within the organization.

BUFFALO HOCKEY BEAT: Sabres forward Jiri Kulich will resume his playing career next season after undergoing a procedure two months ago to remove a blood clot. The 22-year-old missed all but 12 games this season because of the clot.










NHL Rumor Mill – May 19, 2026

by | May 19, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – May 19, 2026

Check out the latest on the Sabres, Wild, Blackhawks, and Jets in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE SABRES?

ESPN.COM: Kristen Shilton looked at what’s in store for the Buffalo Sabres in the offseason following their elimination from the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The first task for general manager Jarmo Kekalainen is to nail down a contract extension for Alex Tuch. The 29-year-old power forward is completing a seven-year deal with an average annual value of $4.75 million and is in line for a significant raise.

Buffalo Sabres winger Alex Tuch (NHL Images)

Given the limited depth in this summer’s UFA market, Tuch will be highly coveted by other clubs if he becomes available on July 1.

Meanwhile, forwards Peyton Krebs and Zach Benson are restricted free agents. Krebs has arbitration rights, while Benson is coming off his entry-level contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was rumored earlier this season that the Tuch camp could seek a deal comparable to the eight-year contract ($10.625 million AAV) that Adrian Kempe signed with the Los Angeles Kings last fall. The Sabres could prefer signing him for between $8.5 million and $9.5 million. It’ll be interesting to see if they can meet in the middle.

Shilton believes Kekalainen must find “suitable scoring depth, a little extra physicality, and some defensive help.” She noted that there could be some “intriguing names” in this summer’s free-agent market that could help them, such as Rasmus Andersson of the Vegas Golden Knights, Anthony Mantha of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Viktor Arvidsson of the Boston Bruins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s rumored that the Golden Knights have an agreement with Andersson on a new contract, but they must wait until July 1 to make it official once they place sidelined defenseman Alex Pietrangelo on offseason LTIR.

THE LATEST ON THE WILD

THE ATHLETIC: Michael Russo and Joe Smith report that Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin believes his club is in a window now where they could win the Stanley Cup. “If there’s a chance for us to get better, we will,” Guerin said.

Russo and Smith believe Guerin’s objective is to find a No. 1 center. Given how weak this year’s free-agent class is, the Wild GM must find that player in the trade market.

Doing so will mean giving up more of their future after parting with three young assets and a first-round pick last December for superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes. Speaking of Hughes, Guerin said signing the 26-year-old blueliner to an extension is his top priority.

The Wild have about $15 million in cap space, and that doesn’t include re-signing some of their pending UFAs and re-signing restricted free agents such as Bobby Brink and Daemon Hunt.

TWINCITIES.COM: Dane Mizutani believes Guerin must find that first-line center regardless of the cost. He recommends packaging young goaltender Jesper Wallstedt in a trade package, depending on the outcome of Filip Gustavsson’s offseason hip surgery.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s well known that Guerin attempted to acquire a center before the March trade deadline. Vincent Trocheck of the New York Rangers was thought to be the target, but the 33-year-old center prefers to remain on the East Coast or as close as possible.

A recent report claimed Guerin made a trade offer to the St. Louis Blues for center Robert Thomas, but the Blues rejected it. Thomas joins Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils as potential trade targets for the Wild. However, those players carry various forms of no-trade protection, and their teams could be unwilling to move them.

Wallstedt was floated as a trade candidate before the deadline, so it’s unsurprising that he’s come up again. If Gustavsson makes a full recovery and is good to go for the start of next season, Wallstedt could get packaged with draft picks and prospects for a first-line center at some point.

WILL THE BLACKHAWKS BE AGGRESSIVE IN THIS SUMMER’S TRADE MARKET?

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: Ben Pope believes Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson must be more aggressive in this summer’s trade market to acquire high-end players who will accelerate his rebuilding plans.

Pope noted this summer’s shallow free-agent pool could result in a busy summer trade market. He wondered if notables such as winger Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars, forward Thomas and Jordan Kyrou of the St. Louis Blues, or goaltender Connor Hellebuyck would be available this summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blackhawks have the cap space and the trade assets in draft picks and prospects to use as trade bait if any of those players become available. Thomas, Kyrou, and Hellebuyck all have full no-trade or no-move protection. Robertson doesn’t, but Davidson would have to ensure that he’s willing to sign an extension before pursuing him. 

DAILY FACEOFF: cited a report from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman indicating the Blackhawks are willing to trade the signing rights for pending UFA forward Ilya Mikheyev. He’s in the final season of a four-year contract with an AAV of $4.75 million

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blackhawks offered Mikheyev a contract extension before the March trade deadline, but he rejected it. His signing rights won’t fetch much of a return, but Davidson could bundle him into a trade package in his pursuit of a high-end player.

COULD THE JETS GO THE OFFER SHEET ROUTE?

THE ATHLETIC: Murat Ates suggested the Winnipeg Jets should target players with offer sheets this summer. He believes it will be difficult to upgrade their roster this summer through free agency, trades, or with the eighth-overall pick in this year’s draft.

Ates observed that some exciting young players will be restricted free agents this summer. He proposed that the Jets should target teams facing a salary-cap crunch this summer. Pavel Dorofeyev of the Vegas Golden Knights would be the best target.

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS: Mike McIntyre suggested the Jets consider bringing back Patrik Laine on an affordable short-term contract. The 28-year-old winger is UFA-eligible this summer and won’t be re-signed by the Montreal Canadiens.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Both scenarios seem unlikely, but the Jets targeting Dorofeyev with an offer sheet is more plausible than bringing back Laine.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 19, 2026

by | May 19, 2026

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.