NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 2, 2026

by | Jun 2, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 2, 2026

The latest on the Stanley Cup Finalists, the Canucks name their new head coach, the Canadiens head into the offseason, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines

NHL.COM: Game 1 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final between the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights begins Tuesday at 8 pm ET in Raleigh.

ESPN.COM: Golden Knights center Jack Eichel believes teammate Mitch Marner was treated unfairly during his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“As a teammate and a friend of his, and somebody who cares about him and his family, of course I do,” Eichel said. “I think the world of Mitch. Anybody that has negative or bad things to say about him, obviously I disgree with, because I think highly of him.”

Vegas Golden Knights winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).

Marner leads all postseason scorers with 21 points entering the Stanley Cup Final, with Eichel second with 18 points. That’s in contrast to his playoff performances during his nine seasons with the Maple Leafs, where he was often criticized for failing to produce in crucial games.

Vegas general manager Kelly McCrimmon believes the Golden Knights have given Marner a chance to thrive.

“I think our team is deeper and a better team than what he had played on in Toronto,” McCrimmon said. “Not that Toronto didn’t have real good teams. But you have to have that depth throughout your roster, because everyone’s going to take their turn.” He added that Marner is playing “with tremendous confidence” and is “savouring the moment.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marner is the front-runner for the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP heading into this series. That’s led to the inevitable comparison to his postseason play with the Maple Leafs, much to the consternation of Leafs fans, who believe their team and the city of Toronto are getting a bad reputation for putting too much pressure on their players.

Marner faced considerable pressure during his time with the Maple Leafs. As a Toronto native, he probably put a lot of stress on himself to meet expectations. Some players can rise to the occasion playing for their hometown club while others wilt.

Playing in a market where the spotlight isn’t as harsh has been just as important to Marner’s performance in this postseason as playing for a deeper roster.

TORONTO SUN: Marner isn’t the only former Maple Leaf in the running for the Conn Smythe Trophy. Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen has played a big role in his club’s run to this year’s Stanley Cup Final.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marner spoke highly of Andersen during Monday’s media availability. He said the netminder was among the first players on the Leafs to make him feel welcome when he joined the club in 2016, calling him “a fun character” and “a joy to be around.”

Andersen returned the compliment, noting how Marner has grown from the young rookie he first met to a family man today.

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: Hurricanes winger Taylor Hall could make history by tying the longest gap between being selected first overall in the NHL Draft and winning the Stanley Cup. The record is 16 years, held by Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals and former NHL defenseman Erik Johnson.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Skating on the Hurricanes’ second line with Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake, Hall sits third among this postseason’s leading scorers with 16 points.

THE PROVINCE: The Vancouver Canucks named Manny Malhotra as their new head coach.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This hiring doesn’t surprise me, especially when the rebuilding Canucks recently promoted assistant GM Ryan Johnson to general manager. As GM of the Canucks’ AHL affiliate in Abbotsford, Johnson hired Malhotra as their head coach in 2024, and he led that club to the Calder Cup last season.

TSN: The Montreal Canadiens hope to sign rookie forward Ivan Demidov to a long-term contract extension this summer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Demidov also hopes to ink a long-term deal with the Canadiens. Both sides will likely try to get this done before Sept. 15, when the maximum term for re-signing players drops from eight years to seven.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: A tearful Brendan Gallagher told reporters that he’s played his final game with the Canadiens. The 34-year-old winger has a year remaining on his contract, and could be traded or bought out.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gallagher spent 14 seasons with the Canadiens, but the decline in his performance led to a drop in his playing time over the past two years. The gritty veteran winger carries a cap hit of $6.25 million for next season, but will be paid $4 million in actual salary.

Gallagher has a six-team no-trade list. He indicated that he’d like to play for his hometown team, the Vancouver Canucks. Whether the two clubs can work out a trade remains to be seen.

TSN: Canadiens winger Patrik Laine is looking forward to landing with another NHL club. The 27-year-old winger played only five games this season before being sidelined by core muscle surgery. He was cleared to return to the Canadiens lineup in December and practiced with his teammates, but didn’t draw back into the lineup.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens kept Laine on injured reserve for the rest of the season. Management said it was because he fell behind the pace of his teammates, and since they were in a must-win situation, there wasn’t enough time to integrate him into the lineup.

However, the move raised some eyebrows. Being on IR for the remainder of the season makes Laine eligible to receive a bonus-laden UFA contract with a low base salary. Patrick Johnston of The Province believes the Canadiens skirted the rules regarding injured reserve and called on the league and the NHLPA to look into it.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Toronto Maple Leafs hired Judd Brackett as their new assistant general manager overseeing player development. Brackett spent the past six years as head of amateur scouting for the Minnesota Wild.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Zeev Buium, Charlie Stramel, Liam Ohgren, Danila Yurov, and Jesper Wallstedt were among the notable players chosen by the Wild during Brackett’s tenure.

SPORTSNET: The Tampa Bay Lightning acquired prospect Jack Pridham from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a third-round draft pick in 2027. The 20-year-old Kitchener Rangers winger helped his club win the 2026 Memorial Cup, leading the tournament with five goals and nine points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blackhawks traded Pridham’s rights because he wasn’t expected to sign an entry-level contract with them by the 5 pm deadline on June 1. He’s expected to join the University of Denver for next season, which means the Lightning will have two years to sign him to an ELC.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 1, 2026

by | Jun 1, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 1, 2026

The latest on the Golden Knights and Hurricanes ahead of the Stanley Cup Final, Finland wins the 2026 IIHF World Championship, the Kitchener Rangers win the 2026 Memorial Cup, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Dan Rosen looked at the notable storylines to watch during the upcoming Stanley Cup Final between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Vegas Golden Knights.

Vegas Golden Knights winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).

Golden Knights winger Mitch Marner will be facing the team he refused to be traded to last season when he was a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Marner was in the final season of his contract with the Maple Leafs. However, he invoked his no-movement clause to reject a trade to the Hurricanes because his wife was in the third trimester of pregnancy and he didn’t want to leave her or Toronto.

The potential goaltending battle between the Hurricanes’ Frederik Andersen and the Golden Knights’ Carter Hart is another storyline to follow. Another will be Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal chasing his second Stanley Cup after winning his first Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins 17 years ago.

THE SCORE: Buffalo Sabres forward Konsta Helenius scored in overtime to give Finland a 1-0 victory over host Switzerland in the gold medal game at the 2026 IIHF World Championship.

Nashville Predators goaltender Justus Annunen stopped 22 shots for Finland, who won their fifth World Championship and their first since 2022.

Norway shocked Canada 3-2 in overtime in the bronze-medal game, marking the first time the Norwegians have medalled in the World Championship. St. Louis Blues forward Robert Thomas scored both goals for Canada.

Predators defenseman and Swiss captain Roman Josi was named tournament MVP. Team Canada captain Macklin Celebrini, who plays for the San Jose Sharks, was named the tournament’s top forward.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s been a disappointing season for Canada on the international stage, taking silver in the Olympics and bronze in the World Juniors. Some observers wonder whether Canada’s depth in skilled players is declining. That may be true when it comes to goaltending, but the real reason is the rest of the world has caught up. There are no longer any easy games in international play, and if you take your opponent for granted, it will cost you.

Former NHL stars Patrice Bergeron, Niklas Kronwall, and Thomas Vanek were inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Congratulations to all the inductees for this well-deserved honor.

TSN: The Kitchener Rangers defeated the Everett Silvertips 6-2 to win the 2026 Memorial Cup.

Rangers winger and Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Sam O’Reilly has three points in the game and nine points in the tournament, winning the Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy as tournament MVP. Chicago Blackhawks prospect Jack Pridham had a goal and an assist in the Cup-clinching game.

It’s the second straight year that Rangers defenseman Jared Woolley has won the Memorial Cup. The Los Angeles Kings prospect won it last year with the London Knights.

TSN: Chris Johnston reported Sunday that there was no validity to speculation linking the Toronto Maple Leafs to University of Denver coach David Carle. The Leafs are searching for a new head coach, and Carle was among those they were interested in Carle.

TWINCITIES.COM: Judd Brackett, the Minnesota Wild’s director of amateur scouting, will be leaving the club for an elevated role with another team. Brackett’s former team, the Vancouver Canucks, are believed to be a potential destination. He’s also been linked to the Maple Leafs.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 31, 2026

by | May 31, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 31, 2026

The leading candidates to win the Conn Smythe Trophy, the latest on the Golden Knights and Hurricanes ahead of the Stanley Cup Final, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen and Vegas Golden Knights winger Mitch Marner are the leading choices of NHL.com’s staff writers to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as this season’s playoff MVP.

Of the 15 staffers, eight predicted that Andersen would win the Conn Smythe Trophy. Four predicted Marner would take home the award.

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen (NHL Images).

Hurricanes forwards Logan Stankoven and Taylor Hall each received one vote. Golden Knights center Jack Eichel also got one vote.

Ten of their staff writers also predicted the Hurricanes would become Stanley Cup champions.

The 2026 Stanley Cup Final begins Tuesday, June 2, in Raleigh, North Carolina.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Professional Hockey Writers Association selects the Conn Smythe Trophy winner at the end of the playoffs.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: The remaining original members of the Vegas Golden Knights (aka “The Golden Misfits”)are preparing for their third trip to the Stanley Cup Final since the club’s inaugural season in 2017-18.

They include defenseman Shea Theodore and Brayden McNabb, and forwards William Karlsson and Reilly Smith.

Of the four, Smith is the only one not to have played the entire nine seasons with the Golden Knights. He was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins following their 2023 Stanley Cup run. Smith also spent time with the New York Rangers before returning in a trade last season.

NHL.COM: Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon is “super thankful” that his club has reached the Stanley Cup Final.

Since Dundon became majority owner of the Hurricanes in 2018, the club reached the Eastern Conference Final in 2019, 2023 and 2025, but was unable to advance to the Cup Final until this season.

Dundon is pleased with the work done by general manager Eric Tulsky building the roster. He’s especially happy for Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour and the five Hurricanes who’ve played through those eight years: Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, Jaccob Slavin, Jordan Martinook, and team captain Jordan Staal.

“There’s a reason those five are still here,” Dundon said. “They’re super important to me. They’re super important to the organization. And yeah, it would be awesome, and Rod, it would be awesome for him (to win the Cup).”

DAILY FACEOFF: Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson praised the Hurricanes’ performance following Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final on Friday. He also noted that he and his teammates still have a ways to go to contend for the Cup.

“They played really well too, but I’m not really sure why we couldn’t bring better,” Hutson said after the Hurricanes eliminated the Canadiens in Game 5. “We’re still far off, and we know it.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens have a promising young core that includes Hutson and forwards Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Ivan Demidov. However, it will be up to the club’s management to continue improving the roster depth around those core players.

DAILY FACEOFF: The family of former NHL star Claude Lemieux released a statement on Saturday indicating that they will be donating his brain to the UNITE Brain Bank to study the long-term effects of traumatic brain injuries and repetitive head impacts.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lemieux died by suicide last week at age 60. His family indicated that he had been battling depression. The study will determine if he was suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which is a degenerative brain disease found in individuals with a history of repetitive head trauma.

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: Former NHL star Dennis Hull passed away on Saturday at age 81.

The younger brother of Hall of Fame winger Bobby Hull, Dennis played 14 NHL seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings from 1964-65 to 1977-78. He spent 13 of those seasons in Chicago, with eight of those as Bobby’s teammate.

Hull scored 303 goals and 351 assists for 654 points in 959 regular-season games, along with 33 goals and 34 assists for 67 points in 104 playoff contests. That included a career-high 40 goals in 1970-71 and 90 points in 1972-73. He reached the Stanley Cup Final with the Blackhawks in 1965, 1971, and 1973. Hull was also a member of Team Canada in the 1972 Summit Series against the Soviet Union.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Hull’s family, friends, former teammates, and the Blackhawks’ organization.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 30, 2026

by | May 30, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 30, 2026

The Hurricanes advance to the Stanley Cup Final, Timo Meier suspended from the World Championship semifinal, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The Carolina Hurricanes advanced to the Stanley Cup Final by defeating the Montreal Canadiens 6-1 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final, winning the best-of-seven series four games to one.

Carolina Hurricanes winger Taylor Hall (NHL Images).

Taylor Hall and Logan Stankoven each had a goal and two assists, and Frederik Andersen stopped 23 shots for the Hurricanes. Cole Caufield scored the only goal for the Canadiens.

The Hurricanes will face the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday, June 2, in Raleigh.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was a well-deserved series victory by the Hurricanes. After a 6-2 defeat in Game 1, they dominated the Canadiens over the next four games, limiting them to just five goals. Their aggressive forechecking and suffocating defensive play left their opponents in this series, and in this postseason thus far, with little time and space to maneuver. It has given them an impressive 12-1 record after three rounds entering the Stanley Cup Final.

This victory was an emotional one for Andersen. He dedicated the win to his late agent, Claude Lemieux, who died on Thursday. “It’s so special to be able to show up for him and make him proud, just go out and battle,” Andersen said. “The whole team supported me as well. This has been so special to be a part of.”

What’s also notable is the Hurricanes reached this stage without making a significant addition to their roster at the trade deadline. Nevertheless, the moves made by Eric Tulsky since becoming general manager two years ago contributed to this run. Hall and Stankoven were among his acquisitions, along with Nikolaj Ehlers, K’Andre Miller, Shayne Gostisbehere, Eric Robinson, William Carrier, Sean Walker, and Brandon Bussi.

As for the Canadiens, it’s a disappointing end to their surprising playoff run. However, it doesn’t overshadow their impressive improvement this season. They finished fourth in the Eastern Conference with 106 points and eliminated the Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres in the first two rounds.

Given their core of young talent, and with more on the way, the Canadiens have a bright future. They weren’t good enough to defeat the Hurricanes in this series. However, if they can learn from the hard lessons of this series, the same lessons the Hurricanes themselves learned in their last three trips to the Conference Final since 2019, the Habs could soon become a serious Stanley Cup contender.

DAILY FACEOFF: The International Ice Hockey Federation has suspended Switzerland forward Timo Meier from the semifinal of the 2026 World Championship for kneeing Swedish forward Oskar Sundqvist during the quarterfinal game between the two countries.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Utah Mammoth’s acquisition of forward JJ Peterka from the Buffalo Sabres for forward Josh Doan and defenseman Michael Kesselring backfired on them during this postseason.

Peterka put up decent numbers in the regular season (25 goals, 47 points) but was held scoreless in the Mammoth’s six-game playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights, raising questions about his postseason readiness.

Meanwhile, Doan had 25 goals and 52 points during the regular season with the Sabres. He thrived during their two-series playoff run, finishing with three goals and 10 points in 12 games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Time will tell which team ultimately wins this deal, but the early nod must go to the Sabres.

BOSTON.COM: Former Bruins enforcer and radio host Lyndon Byers was posthumously diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), his family announced on Thursday.

Byers passed away last June at age 61. Before his death, he had pledged his brain to the UNITE Brain Bank at Boston University’s CTE Center for further testing. His family authorized the results of the testing to be revealed to raise awareness about the effects of CTE.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The NHL has consistently rejected the link between head trauma and CTE. However, Byers is among 20 former NHL players to be diagnosed with the condition following their deaths, including Hall of Famers Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita and Henri Richard.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 29, 2026

by | May 29, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 29, 2026

The hockey world mourns the passing of Claude Lemieux, plus the latest on Evan Bouchard, Bruce Cassidy, Mitch Marner, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

The hockey world is mourning Claude Lemieux, who took his own life in Florida on Thursday at the age of 60.

Claude Lemieux 1965-2026.

Lemieux spent 21 seasons in the NHL with the Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, Colorado Avalanche, Phoenix Coyotes, Dallas Stars, and San Jose Sharks from 1983-84 to 2002-03, and his brief comeback in 2008-09.

In 1,215 regular-season games, Lemieux had 379 goals and 407 assists for 786 points, along with 1,777 PIMs. However, it was in the postseason where he earned a reputation as a clutch scorer, with 80 goals and 78 assists for 158 points in 234 playoff games. He won the Stanley Cup with the Canadiens in 1986, two Cups with the Devils in 1995 and 2000, and another with the Avalanche in 1996. Lemieux’s 80 goals rank ninth all-time among NHL playoff scorers, and he won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1995.

Lemieux also garnered a well-deserved reputation as an agitator whose dirty play made him the player fans loved to hate. The most notorious episode occurred in the 1996 Western Conference Final against the Detroit Red Wings, when he hit Wings forward Kris Draper from behind into the boards, resulting in Draper requiring reconstructive facial surgery. It was the start of an intense feud between the two clubs, culminating in a brawl the following season that is still well remembered by their fans.

Nevertheless, Lemieux’s passing prompted heartfelt condolences from former teammates and opponents, who remembered him as a good teammate and a kind and generous man off the ice. His last public appearance was on Monday in Montreal as the torchbearer in the Canadiens’ pregame ceremony before Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Tributes to Lemieux came from his former teams, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, the NHLPA and NHL Alumni Association, and former players, teammates and executives. They included former Canadiens and Avalanche goaltender Patrick Roy, former Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur and general manager Lou Lamoriello, and former Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman and forward Darren McCarty, who famously clashed with Lemieux in the late 1990s.

Lemieux’s son, former NHL player Brendan Lemieux, took to social media on Thursday to post a heartfelt goodbye to his father.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lemieux’s career was a polarizing one. He was a player you loved to hate unless he was on your team. His ability to elevate his game in high-pressure postseason action made him one of the greatest scorers in Stanley Cup history.

Lemieux’s sudden passing shocked and saddened the hockey world. It appears he was dealing with mental health issues that finally overwhelmed him. Whether they were related to head trauma suffered during his career remains to be seen—my condolences to his family, friends, and former teammates.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard was injured playing for Canada during its quarterfinal game against the United States in the 2026 IIHF World Championship. Bouchard was elbowed in the head by USA defenseman Ryan Lindgren, who received a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct. Canada won the game 4-0.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bouchard was briefly knocked out by the blow, sparking fear that he suffered a concussion. However, the injury is reportedly less serious than originally feared, and it’s believed he’ll be okay. Nevertheless, Bouchard will not be playing in the remainder of the tournament.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Former Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy wants to talk to other teams about filling their vacant coaching jobs. However, he’s feeling frustrated by the Golden Knights blocking his attempts to speak with those teams.

“It’s upsetting, I’m going to be honest,” Cassidy said. The Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings are among the teams who have sought permission to speak with him. However, the Golden Knights are within their rights to deny permission because he has a year remaining on his contract with them.

Even if Cassidy were willing to forfeit his remaining salary ($4.5 million), he said he still wouldn’t be able to be interviewed by other clubs because it would violate the non-compete clause in his contract.

TSN: Golden Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon lamented that Edmonton’s interest in Cassidy became public, blaming the Oilers for leaking it to the media. McCrimmon said he’s spoken with his former coach and understands his frustration, but insists that his focus “first and foremost” is on the Golden Knights’ organization.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights are contractually within their rights to deny other teams permission to speak with Cassidy. Still, it gives the perception that they’re being petty about this situation.

McCrimmon also weighed in on the attention that Golden Knights winger Mitch Marner’s strong performance thus far in this postseason has garnered from fans of his former team, the Toronto Maple Leafs. He believes it’s time for Leafs fans to get over Marner’s departure from Toronto.

“I know it’s Toronto, I know it’s Mitch Marner, I know it’s polarizing, but for me, it’s a little bit about, the guy’s ex-girlfriend moving away and doing well. At some point, you gotta get over it.”

NHL: The Stanley Cup Final will begin on June 2 if the Carolina Hurricanes eliminate the Montreal Canadiens in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final on Friday. If the series goes to Game 6 or 7, the Final will begin on June 4. The Vegas Golden Knights advanced to the Final earlier this week by sweeping the Colorado Avalanche.

SPORTSNET: Speaking of the Maple Leafs, they will interview former Edmonton Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft. The Leafs are seeking a new bench boss after firing coach Craig Berube earlier this month.

TVA SPORTS: Montreal Canadiens prospect winger Alexander Zharovsky was named KHL Rookie of the Year for 2025-26.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Zharovsky is following in the footsteps of Canadiens winger Ivan Demidov, who won that award last season. Demidov was runner-up for the Calder Memorial Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year this season.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 28, 2026

by | May 28, 2026

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.