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Martin Necas Collects an Assist in Game 4 Loss to Golden Knights
Colorado Avalanche right wing Martin Necas finished Tuesday's 2-1 season-ending loss to the Vegas Golden Knights with an assist. The Avalanche once again struggled to generate offense against Vegas, but finally made a breakthrough late in the third period. Necas and Nazem Kadri set up Gabriel Landeskog for a late consolation goal. It was a strong campaign for Necas, who averaged a point per game in the playoffs after posting a career-high 100 points (38 goals, 62 assists) in 78 regular-season contests. He found a way to elevate his play, an encouraging sign for Colorado, as Necas' eight-year, $92 million contract extension will take effect next season.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Gabriel Landeskog Scores Only Avalanche Goal in Season-Ending Loss
Colorado Avalanche winger Gabriel Landeskog scored the team's only goal in Tuesday's 2-1 season-ending loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. The Avalanche captain ended Carter Hart's shutout bid with 2:03 remaining in regulation. Landeskog finished the Conference Finals with three goals in four games, but many of his teammates struggled, leaving Colorado as the seventh No. 1 seed in history to be swept in a playoff series. In 13 postseason appearances, Landeskog recorded 11 points (six goals, five assists). Compared with the regular season, where he had 35 points (14 goals, 21 assists) in 60 outings, the Swedish veteran took his offensive production to a new level.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Carter Hart Finishes Series-Clincher With 20 Saves
Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart made 20 saves in Tuesday's series-clinching 2-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals. He fell just 2:03 short of becoming the third active netminder to record a shutout in a victory that has given a team a berth in the Stanley Cup Finals. On Tuesday night, Hart picked up his sixth consecutive win. He's been in phenomenal form during the hot streak, producing a .948 save percentage. Over his last 11 outings, Hart has allowed more than two goals only twice. This has helped him to a 12-4 postseason record, and he has registered a 2.22 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Dylan Coghlan Continues Unlikely Success Story
Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Dylan Coghlan assisted Cole Smith on the game-winning goal in Tuesday's series-clinching 2-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche. Coghlan has unexpectedly emerged as an important part of Vegas' blue line. After making only three regular-season appearances, he was inserted into the lineup midway through the second-round matchup with Anaheim and has kept his place since. The 28-year-old collected his first career playoff points in the Conference Finals, recording one goal and two assists in four games. Now, Coghlan will get a chance to make an impact in the Stanley Cup Finals and looks to have a strong case to remain in the lineup, even when Jeremy Lauzon (upper body) is cleared to return.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Cole Smith Scores Series-Clincher Tuesday Night
Vegas Golden Knights left wing Cole Smith will go down in history as the player whose goal sent the team into the 2026 Stanley Cup Finals. In Game 4 against the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night, Smith put Vegas 2-0 up at the 14:15 mark in the third period. The 30-year-old became the sixth undrafted player in the 21st century to score a series-clinching goal that has earned a team a Stanley Cup Finals spot. Smith also popped up with a pair of goals in Round 2 against Utah. Before Tuesday night, he had gone nine consecutive games without a point. Still, the fourth-liner has made a mark during Vegas' playoff run, posting five points (three goals, two assists) and 44 hits in 16 games.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Mark Stone Nets Another Goal as Golden Knights Finish Off Avalanche
Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone opened the scoring in Tuesday's series-clinching 2-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche. He gave Vegas the lead just 4:42 into the game, with defensemen Brayden McNabb and Shea Theodore recording the assists. After missing the first two games of the series, Stone made a massive impact as the Golden Knights swept Colorado. In two outings, he had two goals and one assist. The Golden Knights captain has been on the score sheet in each of his last four appearances and is close to averaging a point per game in the playoffs. Stone has tallied five goals and five assists through 11 games.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Claude Giroux Planning to Return for 20th NHL Campaign
Ottawa Senators forward Claude Giroux is ready to continue his NHL career, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reports. "I was told Monday that the 38-year-old forward, an unrestricted free agent on July 1, has decided he wants to come back and play another season," LeBrun wrote in The Athletic. Giroux has spent four seasons in Ottawa and played on a one-year, $2 million deal in 2025-26. The Senators received decent value for their money, as Giroux ranked second on the team with a plus-20 rating and had 49 points (14 goals, 35 assists) in 82 games. Midway through next season, Giroux will turn 39, but he looks capable of flirting with another 50-point campaign, whether in Ottawa or elsewhere.
Source: Pierre LeBrun
Source: Pierre LeBrun
Carter Hart Aiming for Sixth Consecutive Win Tuesday
Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart will look to extend his winning streak to six games on Tuesday night against the Colorado Avalanche. He hasn't suffered any defeats since Game 5 of the second-round matchup with the Anaheim Ducks, allowing more than two goals just once. Thanks to this hot streak, Hart boasts an impressive 11-4 postseason record. He has allowed 2.30 goals with a .923 save percentage. Before facing Vegas, the Avalanche averaged 4.11 goals in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, but Hart has limited Nathan MacKinnon's crew to just 2.00 goals per game.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Evgeni Malkin Inks New One-Year Deal With Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin will remain with the team for one more year. The veteran star was headed for unrestricted free agency before agreeing to a one-year, $5.5 million deal with Pittsburgh. According to TSN's Chris Johnston, Malkin's new contract includes several bonuses, including $1 million if the Penguins make the playoffs. The deal has a maximum value of $9 million. Malkin is coming off a contract with a $6.1 million cap hit. In 2025-26, Malkin averaged at least a point per game for the first time in three seasons. He finished with 19 goals and 42 assists in 56 games. Unfortunately, health issues meant Malkin struggled to stay in the lineup, but he proved he's still a difference-maker on offense near age 40.
Source: TSN
Source: TSN
Mackenzie Blackwood in Net for Game 4 Against Golden Knights
Colorado Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood will start Game 4 against the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday night, ESPN's Emily Kaplan reports. Scott Wedgewood has struggled against Vegas, recording a .877 save percentage, prompting Colorado to make a change in goal with elimination looming. Blackwood has seen action in three playoff games, posting a 1-0 record, a 3.20 goals-against average, and a .872 save percentage. He lost his lone start 3-2 in overtime against Vegas during the regular season, finishing with a .897 save percentage after facing 29 SOG.
Source: Emily Kaplan
Source: Emily Kaplan
Valeri Nichushkin a Game-Time Call Tuesday
Colorado Avalanche winger Valeri Nichushkin (lower body) is a game-time decision against the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday, ESPN's Emily Kaplan reports. The Russian forward sustained a lower-body injury in Game 3 and did not participate in Tuesday's optional morning skate. Nathan MacKinnon (lower body) also sat out the morning skate but is expected to play. Having Nichushkin available would be a further boost for the Avalanche, who face elimination on Tuesday night. He has one goal in three games in the series, though Nichushkin has been quiet for much of the postseason. In 12 outings, he has recorded four points (two goals, two assists). Joel Kiviranta will likely enter the lineup if Nichushkin is ultimately ruled out.
Source: Emily Kaplan
Source: Emily Kaplan
Nathan MacKinnon Will Suit Up Tuesday
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (lower body) will play in Game 4 against the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday, ESPN's Emily Kaplan reports. After suffering a lower-body injury, MacKinnon was used sparingly in the third period of Game 3, and it was initially unclear whether he would be available for Game 4. According to Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar, the star forward felt much better on Tuesday morning and is expected to play in all situations. MacKinnon leads the Avalanche with seven goals and 15 points in 12 postseason games. He has gone scoreless only once in his last nine appearances.
Source: Emily Kaplan
Source: Emily Kaplan
Ivan Demidov Contributes an Assist in Losing Effort
Montreal Canadiens right wing Ivan Demidov finished Monday's 3-2 overtime loss in Game 3 against the Carolina Hurricanes with an assist. He helped Mike Matheson score Montreal's first goal of the game. Demidov registered his second point of the series after being among the goal-scorers in Montreal's big 6-2 Game 1 victory. Throughout the playoffs, Demidov has primarily made an impact on the power play, but each of his last two points has come at even strength. He has nine points (three goals, six assists) in 17 games. One more point would tie the young Russian for the fifth-most playoff points by a rookie in franchise history. Demidov will have at least two games to reach that mark, starting with Game 4 on Wednesday.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Lane Hutson Records Power-Play Goal in Game 3 Loss
Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson returned to the score sheet in Game 3 against the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday, scoring a power-play goal in a 3-2 overtime defeat. Hutson's goal sent the game into overtime, where Montreal suffered a second consecutive loss. It was a painful ending for the team, but the Canadiens will take some joy in knowing Hutson collected his first point of the series. He's played a key role throughout the postseason, recording 15 points (three goals, 12 assists) in 17 games. However, two-thirds of Hutson's points (10) have come on the power play, and Montreal is facing a team with a 93.5% penalty-kill rate in the Eastern Conference Finals, making it tougher for him to generate offense.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Frederik Andersen Enjoys Another Easy Night at the Office in Game 3
Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen faced only 13 shots on goal as the team defeated the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 in overtime on Monday. After being lit up in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Andersen has come back strongly with back-to-back 3-2 overtime wins. He's been getting a lot of help from the team, as Carolina has limited Montreal to 25 shots on goal over the last two games. On Monday night, the Canadiens didn't record a single SOG over the final 24 minutes of action. The Hurricanes' suffocating defense is making Andersen's job a piece of cake. He's now 10-1 in the playoffs, with a 1.56 goals-against average, a .923 save percentage, and two shutouts.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
