Samwise NHL & Hockey Newsletter
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Newhook Makes History With Second Game 7 OT Winner, Sends Canadiens to ECF
Alex Newhook scored at 11:22 of overtime to lift the Montreal Canadiens over the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 in Game 7 at KeyBank Center on Monday, sending Montreal to the Eastern Conference Final. Newhook took a cross-ice pass from Alexandre Carrier, drove to the top of the left circle, and fired a low wrist shot past Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. The goal made him the second player in NHL history to score multiple Game 7 series-clinching goals in a single postseason, joining Nathan Horton (2011 Boston Bruins). Newhook also won Game 7 in overtime against Tampa Bay in Round 1. Montreal faces the Carolina Hurricanes beginning Thursday night at PNC Arena.
Western Conference Final Opens Tonight: Avalanche Host Golden Knights in Game 1
The Western Conference Final opens tonight at Ball Arena in Denver as the Presidents' Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche host the Vegas Golden Knights. Colorado reached this stage by sweeping the Los Angeles Kings in Round 1 before eliminating the Minnesota Wild in five games, with Nathan MacKinnon netting the dramatic tying goal with 1:23 remaining in Game 5 to force overtime. Vegas defeated Utah in six and Anaheim in six. Mitch Marner leads all playoff scorers with 18 points in 12 games heading into Game 1, while MacKinnon brings 13 points over nine contests. Puck drop is at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Sources: ESPN
Perfect 8-0 Hurricanes Enter ECF as Most Dominant Playoff Team in Modern NHL History
The Carolina Hurricanes enter the Eastern Conference Final with an 8-0 record, the first team to sweep two consecutive rounds under the NHL's four-round seven-game format established in 1987. Carolina swept Ottawa in Round 1 and swept Philadelphia in Round 2, with Jackson Blake scoring the overtime winner in Game 4 against the Flyers on May 9. Goaltender Frederik Andersen has started all eight games, posting a 1.12 goals-against average and a .950 save percentage while surrendering just 10 total goals. Carolina will have had 11 days off when Game 1 of the ECF tips off Thursday night against Montreal at PNC Arena, raising questions about rust.
Sources: ESPN, The Hockey Writers
Mitch Marner Leads All NHL Playoff Scorers With 18 Points in 12 Games
Mitch Marner is delivering the postseason of his career with the Vegas Golden Knights, leading all NHL playoff scorers with 18 points — seven goals and 10 assists — in 12 games. The right wing, acquired by Vegas as a free agent last summer, has surpassed his previous personal best of 14 playoff points and tops the league in primary assists (eight), shorthanded points (four), and multipoint games (five). He has reached the Conference Final for the first time in his 10-year NHL career. His performance is drawing equal parts admiration and online commentary from hockey fans who long questioned his playoff credentials in his years with Toronto.
Sources: NHL.com, The Hockey News
Avalanche Face Injury Cloud: Makar, Burns Both Day-to-Day for Game 1
Colorado Avalanche defensemen Cale Makar and Brent Burns were both listed as day-to-day heading into Wednesday's Game 1 of the Western Conference Final against Vegas. Makar, the two-time Norris Trophy winner, absorbed a hit in Game 5 against Minnesota and immediately left the ice grabbing his right arm, then missed three straight practices during the inter-round break. Burns, 41, was limited at several sessions. Coach Jared Bednar confirmed both players are working toward Game 1 availability. Neither has been placed on injured reserve, and the Avalanche hope to have both dressed for tonight's puck drop at Ball Arena.
Sources: CBS Sports, Mile High Sticking
Sheldon Keefe Confirmed as Devils Head Coach for Third Season After GM Review
Sheldon Keefe will return as head coach of the New Jersey Devils for a third season, the club confirmed Tuesday after new general manager Sunny Mehta completed a full organizational review. Keefe, who has two years remaining on his contract, was evaluated following New Jersey's second consecutive playoff miss. Mehta, who replaced longtime GM Tom Fitzgerald last month, cleared Keefe to continue but fired goaltending coach Dave Rogalski and reassigned assistant Sergei Brylin to another organizational role. Keefe, who spent six seasons coaching Toronto before arriving in New Jersey, enters year three behind the Devils bench with two playoff misses on his record.
Sources: ESPN, Daily Faceoff
Finland Routs Defending Champions USA 6-2 at IIHF World Championship in Zurich
Finland handed defending world champion United States a 6-2 defeat at the 2026 IIHF World Championship in Zurich on Tuesday, with Lenni Hameenaho scoring twice to lead the Finns. The result pushed Finland to an unbeaten record through their first three group games and dropped the Americans — Olympic gold medalists at the recently completed Milano Cortina 2026 Games — into a more precarious position in Group A standings. The tournament runs from May 15 through May 31 in Zurich and Fribourg, Switzerland, with 16 nations competing across 64 games. Canada is also unbeaten and stands as one of the early favorites alongside Finland.
Sources: IIHF.com
Stanley Cup Playoffs
Eastern Conference
Conference Final
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Montréal Canadiens — Series begins May 21
Second Round (Completed)
Montréal defeated Buffalo 4–3
Carolina defeated Philadelphia 4–0
First Round (Completed)
Buffalo defeated Boston 4–2
Montréal defeated Tampa Bay 4–3
Carolina defeated Ottawa 4–0
Philadelphia defeated Pittsburgh 4–2
Western Conference
Conference Final
Colorado Avalanche vs. Vegas Golden Knights — Game 1 tonight, May 20
Second Round (Completed)
Colorado defeated Minnesota 4–1
Vegas defeated Anaheim 4–2
First Round (Completed)
Colorado defeated LA Kings 4–0
Minnesota defeated Dallas 4–2
Vegas defeated Utah 4–2
Anaheim defeated Edmonton 4–2
Curated by JD · samwise.agency