NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 26, 2026

by | May 26, 2026

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.










NHL Rumor Mill – May 23, 2026

by | May 23, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – May 23, 2026

Which Sabres goaltender could draw some interest in this summer’s trade market? Should the Islanders target a young Sharks winger? Check out the latest in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

TEAMS COULD TARGET SABRES GOALIE DEVON LEVI

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch cited ESPN’s Kevin Weekes, who reported Friday that the Senators have shown an interest in Devon Levi of the Buffalo Sabres as a potential backup for starting goaltender Linus Ullmark.

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Devon Levi (NHL Images).

Levi, 24, spent last season with the Sabres’ AHL affiliate in Rochester. He would reportedly welcome a change of scenery after being squeezed out of the Sabres’ goalie picture by Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon, and Colten Ellis.

Weekes believes Levi still has potential. Garrioch pointed to his collegiate career and his performance with Team Canada in the 2021 IIHF World Juniors. He has a year remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $812,500 and is no longer exempt from waivers.

If the Sabres want a goalie in return, it could cost the Senators Leevi Merilainen, who is a restricted free agent on July 1 and also no longer waiver-exempt.

Garrioch also reports the Senators are believed to be interested in pending unrestricted free agents, such as Stuart Skinner of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Connor Ingram of the Edmonton Oilers.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: William James wondered if the Flyers should pursue Levi. He pointed out that current Flyers backup Samuel Ersson was inconsistent this season and is RFA-eligible on July 1. Given Levi’s reduced trade value, he could become an affordable acquisition for the Flyers, perhaps costing a mid to late round draft pick.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples included Levi among his list of potential goalie targets for the Oilers.

Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues, Sebastian Cossa of the Detroit Red Wings, Adin Hill of the Vegas Golden Knights, Samuel Montembeault, and Elvis Merzlikins of the Columbus Blue Jackets were also on Staples’ list.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Levi would be the most affordable of those goalies for the Senators, Flyers, and Oilers to pursue. His limited NHL experience makes him a gamble, albeit one that won’t create a salary-cap headache or put a serious dent into their tradeable assets.

SHOULD THE ISLANDERS TARGET A YOUNG SHARKS WINGER?

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Russell Macias believes the New York Islanders will attempt to add to their roster this summer. They need a scoring forward and depth on the right side of their defense.

Macias noted that the Islanders have spent the past several years adding stopgap measures and failed experiments to address their roster weaknesses. He recommends that GM Mathieu Darche bring in a clear top-line winger, especially with Victor Eklund looking like a future NHL player.

Macias suggested Darche consider acquiring Eklund’s older brother, William, who currently plays for the San Jose Sharks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Eklund surfaced in trade rumors following the March trade deadline. The Sharks’ growing list of promising young forwards has some observers suggesting the 24-year-old winger could become a trade chip this summer to add an experienced defenseman to their blue line.

So far, there is no indication that the Islanders are interested in Eklund, but if they were, Alexander Romanov could interest the Sharks. The 26-year-old is a physical blueliner who missed most of this season recovering from shoulder surgery.

When healthy, Romanov could make a good addition to the Sharks’ defense corps, and he would be closer in age to the Sharks’ young core players.










NHL Rumor Mill – May 21, 2026

by | May 21, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – May 21, 2026

Could the Oilers attempt to acquire Blues winger Jordan Kyrou, trade Darnell Nurse to the Sharks, or hire Mike Babcock? What’s the latest on the Maple Leafs and Penguins? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

LATEST OILERS RUMORS

DAILY FACEOFF: Jeff Marek believes the Edmonton Oilers could pursue a speedy winger who can play alongside team captain Connor McDavid.

Marek expects that Jordan Kyrou will be mentioned “a ton” as a trade target. The 27-year-old St. Louis Blues winger has been in the rumor mill for the past couple of years.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kyrou would first have to waive his full no-trade clause. Another hurdle is meeting the Blues’ high asking price. Kyrou’s production dropped this season, mostly because of injuries, but the Blues won’t sell low. They could seek a good young NHL player, a prospect, and a first-round draft pick.

The Oilers have over $16 million in salary-cap space with 15 roster players under contract. They would likely have to shed salary to make room for Kyrou’s $8.125 million average annual value for the next seven seasons.

And no, the Blues won’t retain salary in this deal. You want Kyrou, you meet their asking price, and take on his full cap hit. They’re under no pressure to move him.

Marek believed the Oilers would attempt to re-sign defenseman Connor Murphy, who is eligible for unrestricted free-agent status on July 1. Failing that, he wondered if Michael Kesselring of the Buffalo Sabres might be a fit.

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse (NHL Images).

The San Jose Sharks are looking for a defenseman, and they have a surplus of young forwards. Marek wondered if there might be a deal in which the Oilers send them veteran blueliner Darnell Nurse for one of their young excess forwards, such as Colin Graf.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oilers general manager Stan Bowman would probably love a move like that, assuming Nurse waives his no-movement clause. However, Sharks GM Mike Grier could have other trade options in mind to bolster his blueline, especially ones that aren’t carrying a $9.25 million AAV for the next four years.

Marek also mentioned the Oilers’ need to upgrade their goaltending. He mused about whether there might be something there with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen of the Buffalo Sabres.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers need stability between the pipes, but Luukkonen has had his consistency issues. The Sabres could also prefer to keep their current goaltending tandem intact for next season.

Devon Levi has recently surfaced as a trade candidate given his struggles to crack the Sabres’ lineup. However, the Oilers might prefer a more established NHL starter.

TSN: Darren Dreger contacted former NHL head coach Mike Babcock regarding rumors linking him to the Oilers. “Dregs, I’m retired. Loving it,” Babcock replied.

Babcock last coached in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2019-20. He was hired by the Columbus Blue Jackets three years later, but resigned before the start of the season after it was reported he had asked his players to share personal photos from their mobile devices.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Despite Dreger’s report, the speculation persists suggesting the Oilers should hire Babcock. However, the Oilers players might not be pleased with that possibility, given what went down in Columbus and his treatment of Mitch Marner when he coached the Maple Leafs.

MATTHEWS COULD BE THE MAPLE LEAFS’ ONLY UNTOUCHABLE

SDPN: During the latest episode of The Chris Johnston Show, Johnston said the Toronto Maple Leafs’ new management is open to listening to offers on any player other than team captain Auston Matthews.

Johnston pointed out that some players, such as William Nylander and Morgan Rielly, have no-movement clauses, meaning they could be unwilling to move. Nevertheless, it seems that new GM John Chayka is “basically considering everything but his captain.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Chayka will also set high prices for some of those players, especially Nylander, right wing Matthew Knies, and center John Tavares. Even though he might be open to listening to offers, it doesn’t mean that he’s going to move those players or stage a fire sale.

Remember, Chayka’s taking his marching orders from Leafs ownership. They made it clear that they are retooling, not rebuilding, with the intent of staging a bounce-back performance next season.

SUGGESTED TRADE TARGETS FOR THE PENGUINS

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski suggested four young players as potential trade targets for the Penguins.

They include winger Brad Lambert of the Winnipeg Jets, defenseman Mason Lohrei of the Boston Bruins, center Shane Wright of the Seattle Kraken, and blueliner Pavel Mintyukov of the Anaheim Ducks.

Kingerski noted that the four have struggled with their current clubs and might benefit from a change of scenery with a retooling team like the Penguins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lambert, Lohrei, Wright, and Mintyukov have surfaced in the rumor mill from time to time this season. Their respective clubs aren’t facing any serious pressure to move them, but they could be worth monitoring in what could be a busy summer for trade activity.










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.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 15, 2026

by | May 15, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 15, 2026

The Golden Knights advance to the Western Conference Final, the Canadiens rally to push the Sabres to the brink of elimination, reaction to the Oilers firing Kris Knoblauch, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING THURSDAY’S PLAYOFF ACTION

NHL.COM: The Vegas Golden Knights advanced to the Western Conference Final after defeating the Anaheim Ducks 5-1 in Game 6 of their second-round series. Pavel Dorofeyev scored two goals, and Mitch Marner had two points (including a highlight-reel game-opening goal) for the Golden Knights, who took the series in six games. Mikael Granlund replied for the Ducks.

The Golden Knights will face the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Final starting on Wednesday, May 20, in Denver.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights’ experience and defensive play made the difference in this series. Marner played a key role during this series, playing his way into early Conn Smythe Trophy contention with his playoff-leading 18 points. Dorofeyev has come into his own as a postseason sniper with nine goals to lead all scorers thus far.

The Ducks’ season is over, but they exceeded expectations this season by ending their seven-year playoff drought and upsetting the Edmonton Oilers in the first round. Their young roster has a bright future and will be better in the coming years.

Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki (NHL Images).

Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki had a goal and two assists to lead his club to a 6-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres in Game 5 of their second-round series. Ivan Demidov scored his first career NHL playoff goal, Cole Caufield extended his goal streak to three games, and Juraj Slafkovsky collected three assists as the Canadiens overcame 1-0, 2-1, and 3-2 deficits. Jason Zucker, Josh Doan, and Konsta Helenius scored for the Sabres.

The Canadiens hold a 3-2 series lead and can wrap it up in Game 6 in Montreal on Saturday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That first period was a wild one, with Montreal goaltender Jakub Dobes giving up three goals on four shots. Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis asked goalie coach Marco Marciano if he felt Dobes should be pulled, but Marciano said no. Dobes settled down, stopping the next 32 shots for the win. Habs defenseman Lane Hutson set up two goals, tying him with Suzuki for the team’s points lead with 12.

Buffalo goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen gave up five goals on 23 shots and was replaced by Alex Lyon for the third period. Neither goalie was helped by their teammates’ poor defense, especially in the second period, when Montreal tallied three unanswered goals to take control of the game. Meanwhile, Sabres power forward Alex Tuch has been held scoreless in this series after tallying seven points in six games against the Boston Bruins in the first round.

HEADLINES

TSN: The Edmonton Oilers fired head coach Kris Knoblauch on Thursday. He’d been in the position for three seasons, coaching the Oilers to back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances in 2023-24 and 2024-25. However, the Oilers were eliminated in the opening round of this year’s playoffs by the Anaheim Ducks. He was about to start a three-year contract extension worth $7.5 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers were roasted on social media for their bungled handling of this situation. Everyone knew earlier this week that Knoblauch was a goner after it emerged that they sought permission from the Vegas Golden Knights to speak with their former bench boss, Bruce Cassidy.

David Staples of the Edmonton Journal listed 13 factors behind Knoblauch’s dismissal. In my opinion, he’s paying the price for the mistakes of Oilers management over the last two years.

The question now is who becomes Knobluach’s replacement. It’s believed they’re still zeroed in on Cassidy despite the Golden Knights’ denying them permission to speak with him.

The hiring will be consequential, given superstar Connor McDavid’s two-year contract extension begins on July 1. If the Oilers fail to improve next season, it could lead to the latter’s departure as early as next summer.

THE PROVINCE: The Vancouver Canucks officially named Daniel and Henrik Sedin as co-presidents and promoted assistant general manager Ryan Johnson as their general manager.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: No surprises here, as these hirings have been expected for days. While all three are well-respected within the organization and among Canucks fans, they have a big job ahead of them.

The Canucks are coming off one of the worst seasons in franchise history, culminating in the departure of superstar Quinn Hughes in a trade with Minnesota in December. It will take several seasons to build this club back into a playoff contender.

Their first decision could be whether to replace head coach Adam Foote, who’s been in the job for one season.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: Flyers general manager Daniel Briere revealed 10 players were dealing with significant injuries during their playoff run.

Emile Andrae played with a fractured wrist that requires surgery. Noah Cates fractured his foot but doesn’t need surgery. Christian Dvorak suffered a fractured rib and a separated shoulder. Garnet Hathaway played through a fractured fibula. Travis Konecny had a fractured rib and a nasal fracture. Owen Tippett dealt with internal bleeding and a sports hernia, and Cam York played through a fractured rib.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’ve singled out the most serious of the injuries suffered by Flyers players. One wonders how much better they might’ve fared against the Carolina Hurricanes if they had been healthier for that second-round series.

NESN: The Boston Bruins announced that assistant general manager Jamie Langenbrunner is departing to pursue other opportunities.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Langenbrunner is rumored to be heading to Vancouver to join the Canucks’ front office.

SPORTSNET: Speaking of the Bruins, they signed winger Lukas Reichel to a one-year, $950,000 contract extension.

TSN: The Chicago Blackhawks signed prospect forward Roman Kantserov to a three-year, entry-level contract.

NEW YORK POST: Former NHL defenseman Paul Boutilier has passed away at age 63. No cause of death was announced.

Boutilier spent eight seasons in the NHL with the New York Islanders, Boston Bruins, Minnesota North Stars, New York Rangers, and Winnipeg Jets from 1981-82 to 1988-89. In 288 regular-season games, he had 27 goals and 83 assists for 110 points, and 10 points in 41 playoff games. Boutilier won the Stanley Cup with the Islanders in 1982-83.

Following his playing career, Boutilier served as an assistant coach and head coach for Saint Mary’s University in Halifax from 1991 to 1997. He was an assistant coach with the QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs from 2015 to 2017, helping them win the league championship in 2016-17. In 2024, he joined the QMJHL’s Moncton Wildcats as a defensive consultant, helping them win the league championship in 2025.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Boutilier’s family, friends, and former teammates.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 13, 2026

by | May 13, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 13, 2026

The Golden Knights push the Ducks to the brink of elimination, the Sabres tie their series with the Canadiens, the finalists for GM of the Year are announced, and much more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF TUESDAY’S PLAYOFF ACTION

NHL.COM: Vegas Golden Knights winger Pavel Dorofeyev scored twice, including the winner in overtime, to give his club a 3-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks in Game 5 of their second-round series. Tomas Hertl had a goal and an assist while Jack Eichel collected two assists for the Golden Knights, who hold a 3-2 lead in the series. Beckett Sennecke and Olen Zellweger scored while Mason McTavish and Cutter Gauthier each had two assists for the Ducks.

Vegas Golden Knights winger Pavel Dorofeyev (NHL Images).

The Golden Knights can win this series in Game 6, which will be held in Anaheim on Thursday, May 14.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was an entertaining, closely contested game. Zellweger’s goal tied it to force overtime late in the third, but Dorofeyev was the star of this one with his clutch scoring for the Golden Knights.

Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb was ejected for interference when he laid out Ducks center Ryan Poehling with a big hit when the latter no longer had possession of the puck. Poehling was helped from the ice and didn’t return.

The Golden Knights played this game without team captain Mark Stone, who remains sidelined with an undisclosed injury suffered during Game 3 of this series.

Game 6 will be a big test for the Ducks as they try to counter the Golden Knights’ experience to force Game 7 back in Las Vegas.

The Buffalo Sabres knotted their series with the Montreal Canadiens at two games apiece with a 3-2 win. Zach Benson snapped a 2-2 tie with a third-period power-play goal, Tage Thompson had a goal and an assist, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 28 shots in his return to the Sabres’ net. Alex Newhook extended his goal streak to three games while Cole Caufield tallied his second straight power-play goal for the Canadiens. Game 5 is in Buffalo on Thursday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Thompson’s goal was a flukey one. With the Canadiens up 2-1 in the second period, he fired a dump-in from center ice that took a weird bounce off a stanchion that surprised Habs goalie Jakub Dobes, bouncing off his right pad into the net. It was a game-changer that set the stage for Benson’s winner in the third.

The Canadiens were flat through the first half of the opening period, but they had the better of the play for most of the game. They also had seven power-play opportunities but only scored on one of them, while the Sabres went 2-for-4 with the man advantage. Luukkonen was outstanding for the Sabres, who regained home-ice advantage as the series narrowed to a best-of-three.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Bill Guerin of the Minnesota Wild, Chris MacFarland of the Colorado Avalanche, and Pat Verbeek of the Anaheim Ducks are the finalists for the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award. The award is given annually based on a vote of NHL general managers and a panel of league executives, print, and broadcast media.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Guerin and MacFarland got the nod for their trades this season, including the Wild’s acquisition of superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes in December and the Avalanche’s obtaining Nazem Kadri, Nicolas Roy, Brett Kulak, and Nick Blankenburg before the trade deadline.

Verbeek also made a splash by landing defenseman John Carlson from the Washington Capitals, but he’d be my choice because of his work rebuilding the Ducks, who returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2017-18.

HOCKEY 24/7: Frank Seravalli reported the Edmonton Oilers sought permission from the Vegas Golden Knights to speak with their former head coach Bruce Cassidy, who was fired in March. However, the Golden Knights have thus far withheld permission from their division rival.

Seravalli said the Golden Knights haven’t outright rejected the Oilers’ request, but they’re keeping the Oilers waiting as they continue their second-round series with the Ducks. Cassidy is also reportedly being targeted by the Los Angeles Kings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cassidy remains under contract with the Golden Knights, which is why teams must seek permission to speak with him. Seravalli speculates this could prompt a call from league commissioner Gary Bettman to sort this out.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman believes this is a weird bit of gamesmanship by the Golden Knights in line with their front-office reputation for ruthlessness. It’s garnered a mix of puzzlement and criticism around the league, with those in the latter camp (myself included) considering it an unprofessional, classless act.

This also isn’t a good look for the Oilers, who are searching for a new bench boss while leaving their current coach, Kris Knoblauch, twisting in the wind.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: The Blue Jackets signed center Charlie Coyle to a six-year, $36 million contract worth an average annual value of $6 million. Coyle, 34, was slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He’s completing a six-year deal with an AAV of $5.25 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets are trying to maintain a roster that narrowly missed the playoffs in each of the last two seasons. Coyle played a key role with his versatility, leadership, and two-way play.

Nevertheless, this contract won’t age well. The salary increase is marginal, and the Blue Jackets can afford it in the short term, but six years is way too long for a player at this stage of his career. He’s also getting a full no-movement clause for the first four years.

This contract could complicate things for the Blue Jackets down the road if they need cap room to retain or acquire a better player.

SPORTSNET: Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson was fined $5,000 by the NHL for butt-ending Minnesota Wild forward Michael McCarron during Game 4 of their playoff series on Monday.

Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek and defenseman Jonas Brodin will remain sidelined by injuries for Game 5 against the Avalanche.

TSN: Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby will replace New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal on Team Canada in the upcoming 2026 IIHF World Championship. Barzal is coping with a minor, preexisting injury.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy has been suspended from the first six games of the Bruins’ 2026-27 regular-season schedule for slashing Buffalo Sabres forward Zach Benson during Game 6 of their first-round series.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The incident happened late in that game when Benson took McAvoy’s skates out from under him with a slew-foot move, sending him crashing into the end boards. An infuriated McAvoy got up, charged at Benson, and leveled a two-handed chop of his stick to Benson’s upper body.

McAvoy’s anger was understandable as he could’ve been injured, but that didn’t justify his subsequent action.

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: Flyers winger Owen Tippett revealed that he missed his club’s second-round series against the Carolina Hurricanes with an internal-bleeding issue. He said that he was dealing with a sports hernia injury during their first-round series with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tippett said he’s confident he’ll make a full recovery and will be ready for training camp in September.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: Flyers rookie forward Porter Martone will be joining Team Canada for the 2026 IIHF World Championship.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: The Kraken have hired Sportsology Group to conduct an audit of its hockey operations department, including the organizational structure, scouting, and player development departments.