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Brett Kulak Sends Avalanche Into Conference Finals
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Brett Kulak scored the series-clinching goal in overtime during Wednesday's 4-3 victory against the Minnesota Wild. The visitors shocked Colorado with a sharp start, winning the opening period 3-0, but Kulak led the team's comeback effort. He also registered an assist in the contest. Kulak, a midseason pickup from the Pittsburgh Penguins, has been in impressive form during the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. In nine appearances, he has recorded five points (one goal, four assists), eight SOG, 20 blocks, and a plus-three rating. The 32-year-old is set to play in the Conference Finals for a third consecutive year, having previously been part of Edmonton's deep playoff runs.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Brayden McNabb Suspended for One Game
Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb has been suspended for one game and will miss Game 6 against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday night. McNabb received the suspension for interference against Ducks forward Ryan Poehling (upper body) in Game 5 on Tuesday. Poehling suffered an upper-body injury on the hit and won't play in Game 6. This marks McNabb's first suspension during his 14-year NHL career. Kaedan Korczak is set to draw into the lineup in McNabb's absence. He has been a healthy scratch for the last few games but appeared in all of Vegas' first eight postseason games, logging one assist, three SOG, five blocks, and 18 hits.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Nathan MacKinnon Chasing History Wednesday
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon has been in dominant form during another postseason campaign and can match a franchise record in Game 5 against the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday. He is two points away from recording his fifth playoff series with 10-plus points. Joe Sakic is currently the only player in Avalanche/Nordiques history to achieve that feat. MacKinnon has scored once in all four games against Minnesota, adding four assists. Overall, he is tied for fifth in scoring this postseason, with 12 points (six goals, six assists) in nine games. 11 of his points have come in the past five games.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Ryan Poehling Won't Be an Option for Game 6
Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Poehling (upper body) won't play in Game 6 against the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday, Zach Cavanagh of The Sporting Tribune reports. The 27-year-old was injured in Game 5 on a big hit by Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb. With four goals, Poehling is tied for second on his team this postseason and has added one assist in 11 outings. Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville is considering using an extra defenseman in Thursday's game, which suggests Radko Gudas (lower body) might finally be ready for his series debut. Among forwards, Jansen Harkins and Frank Vatrano are options to fill in for Poehling.
Source: Zach Cavanagh
Source: Zach Cavanagh
Sam Malinski Set to Miss Second Straight Game
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Sam Malinski (upper body) is not expected to be in the lineup on Wednesday in Game 5 against the Minnesota Wild. An upper-body injury kept Malinski out of Monday's Game 4, and he didn't participate in Wednesday's optional morning skate. Fortunately for the Avalanche, their defense got Josh Manson back on Monday night. He skated on the third defensive pairing with Jack Ahcan, who figures to remain in the lineup in Malinski's absence. While Ahcan had a big year offensively in the AHL this season, he stood out defensively in Game 4, recording three blocks and two hits in 7:07 of action.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Artturi Lehkonen Unlikely to Play Wednesday
Colorado Avalanche winger Artturi Lehkonen (upper body) is unlikely to play in Game 5 against the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday night. He missed Monday's Game 4 with an upper-body injury and wasn't on the ice on Wednesday for an optional morning skate. While Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said Lehkonen could "possibly" play, along with defenseman Sam Malinski (upper body), it appears unlikely he will return. With Lehkonen unavailable on Monday night, Gabriel Landeskog joined the first line. The Avalanche captain has averaged a point per game through eight postseason outings and will be an even bigger offensive threat as the running mate of Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Matthew Schaefer Wins Calder Trophy
New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer was named the 2025-26 Calder Trophy winner as the NHL's best rookie on Wednesday. The 18-year-old from Hamilton, Ontario, became the first defenseman in NHL history to be the unanimous Rookie of the Year. Schaefer set many records during his maiden campaign, finishing with 59 points (23 goals, 36 assists) in 82 games. He's only the fourth defenseman to lead rookies in goals. Overall, he finished third in scoring among first-year players. Schaefer made a huge impact during his rookie campaign, and it's scary to think about what he will be capable of with more experience.
Source: Kristen Shilton
Source: Kristen Shilton
Maple Leafs Fire Head Coach Craig Berube
The Toronto Maple Leafs parted ways with head coach Craig Berube on Wednesday, ESPN's Kristen Shilton reports. He was let go after working with the team for two years. Berube had an 84-62-18 regular-season record with the Maple Leafs. During his debut campaign, he guided the team to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but Toronto took a huge step back in 2025-26. The team had just 32 wins, finishing at the bottom of the Atlantic Division and missing the playoffs for the first time in 10 years. Firing Berube was the first major decision by the Maple Leafs' new front office, led by general manager John Chayka.
Source: Kristen Shilton
Source: Kristen Shilton
Mason McTavish Delivers Two Assists Tuesday Night
Anaheim Ducks forward Mason McTavish dished out two assists in Tuesday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. In the first period, Beckett Sennecke scored a power-play goal, and Olen Zellweger tied the game at two with an even-strength tally late in the third. This was a painful loss for the Ducks, who now face elimination in Game 6, but it was a great night for McTavish personally. He's seen limited ice time in the playoffs and was a healthy scratch for a couple of games earlier in the second-round series. Scoring-wise, McTavish hasn't done a bad job in the postseason, bagging six points (one goal, five assists) in nine appearances.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Pavel Dorofeyev Pots Two Goals in Vital Game 5 Win
Vegas Golden Knights winger Pavel Dorofeyev produced two goals in Tuesday's 3-2 overtime victory in Game 5 against the Anaheim Ducks, putting his team one win away from the Western Conference Finals. The Russian forward notched a power-play goal late in the first period and scored at even strength with 4:10 played in overtime. Jack Eichel had assists on both Dorofeyev goals. The Golden Knights can count their lucky stars that Dorofeyev was on the ice for the game-winning goal, as he missed some time in the second period after a puck struck his knee. With seven goals, Dorofeyev is now tied for the most among all skaters in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He's also tallied two assists in 11 games.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Josh Doan Records Two Assists in Game 4 Victory
Buffalo Sabres winger Josh Doan recorded two assists as the team tied the second-round series against the Montreal Canadiens with a 3-2 road win. Doan extended his assist streak to five games when Mattias Samuelsson opened the scoring in the first period and added another in the third on a power-play goal by Zach Benson. Doan is the first Sabres player in 20 years to post a five-game assist streak in the playoffs. Gilbert Perreault holds the franchise record, set in 1981, with a seven-game run. Playoff hockey has suited Doan, as he's been Buffalo's second-highest scorer this postseason, with nine points (two goals, seven assists) in 10 games.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Penguins Want Evgeni Malkin Back
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin is a pending unrestricted free agent, but he could still have a future with the franchise, ESPN's Greg Wyshynski reports. On Tuesday, Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas said he would "love" to have Malkin back for next season. The team has reportedly been in discussions with Malkin and his agent about a new contract. Recently, Malkin hinted he's prepared to continue his NHL career elsewhere if an agreement isn't reached with the Penguins. Malkin, who will turn 40 in July, has played in Pittsburgh since entering the NHL in 2006. With 1,407 points (533 goals, 874 assists) in 1,269 regular-season games, he ranks third on the team's all-time scoring list. In 2025-26, Malkin averaged at least a point per game for the first time in three years, showing he's got plenty of gas left in the tank.
Source: Greg Wyshynski
Source: Greg Wyshynski
Sidney Crosby Joins Team Canada for World Championship
Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby will play for Team Canada at the 2026 World Championship. This will be only the fourth time Crosby will participate in the tournament, but he will be part of Canada's squad for a second consecutive year. In 2025, Crosby racked up 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in eight games, but couldn't help his team get past the quarterfinals. The Penguins captain suffered further heartbreak with Canada at this year's Olympic Games. Crosby couldn't finish the tournament due to a lower-body injury, and the Canadians lost the gold medal game to Team USA. Canada added Crosby to the World Championship roster after New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal (undisclosed) dropped out of the squad due to a minor injury.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Ryan Poehling Suffers Upper-Body Injury in Game 5 Loss
Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Poehling (upper body) didn't finish Tuesday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. He left the game in the first period after taking a big hit from Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb. Poehling needed assistance to leave the ice, and McNabb was assessed a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for interference. Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville didn't have an update on Poehling postgame. Poehling has been quietly effective for the Ducks throughout the campaign. He finished the regular season with a career-high 36 points (11 goals, 25 assists) in 75 contests and has added five points (four goals, one assist) in 11 playoff outings. Frank Vatrano and Jansen Harkins are potential options to replace Poehling in the lineup if needed.
Source: Anaheim Ducks
Source: Anaheim Ducks
Charlie McAvoy Slapped With Six-Game Suspension
Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy will sit out the first six games of the 2026-27 regular season due to a suspension, ESPN's Greg Wyshynski reports. The NHL Department of Player Safety has suspended McAvoy for slashing Buffalo Sabres forward Zach Benson in Game 6 of their first-round playoff matchup on May 1. This marks McAvoy's third career suspension. Last time, he sat out four games for an illegal check to an opponent's head. Boston will feel McAvoy's absence on both ends of the ice. In 2025-26, he had a career-high 61 points (11 goals, 50 assists) in 69 games, along with 129 blocks and 79 hits.
Source: Greg Wyshynski
Source: Greg Wyshynski
