stanley cup playoffs

Carolina Hurricanes forward William Carrier says his wife and family are cheering for the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL playoffs. The surprise family feud has been one of the more fun stories coming out of the Eastern Conference Final. But Carrier remains 100 percent focused on helping Carolina keep its impressive postseason run going, despite the awkward playoff loyalties inside his house.

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar has been a growing injury concern during the current NHL playoffs after suffering an upper-body injury in the last round. There is no definitive timetable for a return from the franchise, casting doubt over his availability moving forward. The loss of Makar could have a huge effect on Colorado’s defensive stability, transition game and overall Stanley Cup hopes this postseason.

The Vegas Golden Knights are facing some serious NHL backlash after a controversial post-game incident following their Game 6 win over the Anaheim Ducks that clinched their spot in the playoffs. The league said the organization had violated media policies, and all eyes turned to head coach John Tortorella and defenseman Brayden McNabb in the growing controversy. The NHL’s reported punishment, including a hefty fine and a lost draft pick, has quickly become one of hockey’s biggest stories in the postseason.

Alex Newhook scored a memorable overtime winner as the Montreal Canadiens topped the Buffalo Sabres in a thrilling NHL Game 7 playoff battle. The Canadiens weathered a wild third-period comeback by Buffalo, and Newhook scored the winner in overtime. Montreal moves on to the Eastern Conference Final. Jakub Dobes, Rasmus Dahlin and Mattias Samuelsson were all big contributors in a hard-fought game.

Arber Xhekaj reportedly played a big role in a scary situation near Montreal’s Lachine Canal as the Montreal Canadiens’ playoff series vs. the Buffalo Sabres rolled on. The Canadiens defenseman was able to spot someone in trouble in the canal and immediately called 911, reports said. The person survived, and Xhekaj’s cool demeanor off the ice gained a lot of attention in the process of continuous NHL updates and playoff talk.

NHL Player Safety is reviewing a slash to the face of Buffalo Sabres forward Zach Benson by Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy during the stanley cup playoffs for a possible major suspension. The incident quickly became a big story in the NHL, with analysts predicting major punishment that could affect the Boston Bruins' plans for the upcoming National Hockey League season.

Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Craig Berube after a disappointing 2025-26 season, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016-17. General Manager John Chayka confirmed the decision, emphasizing an organizational shift for a fresh start. The team now holds the No. 1 draft pick as they begin their search for a new bench boss.

Connor McDavid's future with the Edmonton Oilers is making big NHL headlines after another disappointing playoff exit. During a recent media appearance, Gretzky addressed the mounting speculation, joking that he doesn’t want Edmonton fans to damage his statue if he told McDavid to leave. The talk also turned to current NHL trade rumours, playoff frustrations and questions about Edmonton’s long-term championship hopes.

The Edmonton Oilers are being floated as a possibility to make bold NHL offseason rumours after insider Jeff Marek floated the idea of a possible Pavel Dorofeyev offer sheet scenario. Edmonton could turn to the Vegas Golden Knights winger to add to its scoring depth after a disappointing playoff exit. Vegas’ salary-cap concerns and Dorofeyev’s breakout performances have fuelled speculation over one of the NHL’s most aggressive possible offseason moves.

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman has been raving about Lane Hutson’s playoff play with the Montreal Canadiens. Friedman thinks Hutson could win multiple Norris Trophies in his career after a dominant performance against the Buffalo Sabres. The defenseman’s emergence is quickly becoming one of the biggest stories of the 2026 stanley cup playoffs.

Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon was forced to exit Game 4 versus the Minnesota Wild after taking a brutal puck to the face. The NHL star was seen bleeding heavily in the second period after his teammate Devon Toews accidentally cleared the puck into him. The scary moment stopped the playoff game and immediately raised questions about Nathan MacKinnon’s injury status moving forward.

Insider Pierre LeBrun has talked about possible contract concerns and NHL trade rumors and this is sparking more questions about Connor McDavid's long-term future with the Edmonton Oilers. The superstar captain is still committed to Edmonton, but another disappointing playoff performance could affect future extension talks. Several NHL franchises are said to be watching the situation closely as speculation surrounding the league's biggest star continues to grow.

Connor McDavid’s future with the Edmonton Oilers is once again a hot topic in the NHL after speculation linked the superstar captain to the Minnesota Wild. While no trade is imminent, with Minnesota’s deep prospect pool, cap flexibility and long-term roster planning, the franchise could be a future destination if the Edmonton Oilers eventually change their championship-building strategy around Connor McDavid.

Arber Xhekaj’s minimal ice time in the Montreal Canadiens’ Game 7 NHL playoff win over the Buffalo Sabres has sparked a major controversy ahead of the Eastern Conference Final. The Carolina Hurricanes series is about to begin, but before that, questions loom over Xhekaj’s role, team strategy, workload of the top defensive unit and Lane Hutson for Martin St. Louis.

Elliotte Friedman’s latest insider comments have made Auston Matthews’ long-term future with the Toronto Maple Leafs a hot topic in the NHL. Matthews wants to see more belief in the direction of the franchise toward the Stanley Cup before signing long-term, Friedman revealed. Matthews’ belief in the team’s future ambitions, with John Chayka reshaping the organization’s plans, could be very impactful on Toronto’s offseason decisions.

Carter Hart was the talk of the town again during NHL Game 5 between the Vegas Golden Knights and Anaheim Ducks. Fan protests, chants and social media campaigns amplified attention on Hart’s controversial return to the NHL. Hart still played a solid playoff game, but the Vegas Golden Knights came away with a crucial overtime win in the feisty Western Conference playoff series.

The Vegas Golden Knights are involved in a big story about an injured player in the NHL playoffs, and that player is Mark Stone. The team captain is still missing from the lineup as he recovers from an undisclosed issue, and his availability going forward is uncertain. This is one of the biggest NHL injury updates surrounding the postseason as his absence has impacted lineup balance, leadership and defensive structure.

Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov became a topic of conversation in the NHL offseason when fans saw his recent Instagram follow of influencer Breckie Hill. The social media activity came soon after the Wild’s playoff exit and quickly gained traction in NHL news roundup chatter and online fan forums. That moment highlighted the intense online attention NHL stars receive, especially during emotional offseasons.

Buffalo Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was emotional after the team lost in a hard-fought Game 7 and came up short of advancing in the NHL playoffs. Luukkonen smashed his mask after the loss, caught on camera, and the result further fuelled NHL trade rumours regarding Devon Levi and the crowded goaltending situation in Buffalo.

NHL offseason trade rumors suggest New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck is being mentioned as a possible destination for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Toronto is looking to add depth at center after some inconsistent playoff showings, and Trocheck's two-way style and experience make him a good fit. But Trocheck’s contract status and the steep asking price from the Rangers could make any deal more difficult. His reported desire to play for an East Coast U.S. team only adds to the uncertainty, leaving this potential blockbuster trade in limbo as NHL offseason chatter heats up.