Hockey

Montreal Victoire forward Abby Roque (11) celebrates her goal against the Ottawa Charge with teammates during third period PWHL Walter Cup final hockey action in Ottawa, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Roque nets two goals to lead Victoire past Charge 4-0 to win PWHL’s Walter Cup

Lisa Wallace, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Updated: 12:12 AM CDT

OTTAWA -

Just over a year ago, Marie-Philip Poulin stood in Ottawa searching for answers after her Montreal Victoire fell short in the playoffs. On Wednesday night, the Victoire captain finally got her moment of redemption.

Poulin and her Victoire teammates defeated the Ottawa Charge 4-0 to win their first Professional Women’s Hockey League championship and become the first Canadian team to raise the Walter Cup.

With two goals and six assists through nine playoff games, the 35-year-old captain was awarded the Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP.

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Hockey

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Dylan Coghlan, front left, is congratulated after scoring a goal by defenseman Shea Theodore, back left, and center Tomas Hertl during the second period in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

An unlikely hero breaks through as the Golden Knights beat the Avalanche 4-2 in Game 1

Arnie Stapleton, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

An unlikely hero breaks through as the Golden Knights beat the Avalanche 4-2 in Game 1

Arnie Stapleton, The Associated Press 4 minute read Updated: 9:36 AM CDT

DENVER (AP) — A Western Conference Final loaded with offensive firepower was ignited by the unlikeliest of sparkplugs.

Dylan Coghlan’s wrist shot under Scott Wedgewood’s legs ended a scoreless deadlock and helped the Vegas Golden Knights steal home ice from the top-seeded Colorado Avalanche with a 4-2 statement win Wednesday night at Ball Arena.

“Honestly, I didn't know it went in until I looked at Shea (Theodore) and he was just smiling at me,” Coghlan said.

It was Coghlan’s first career NHL playoff goal, his fist score in the league in nearly five years and just his seventh net-finder of his career. Adding to his big night, the 28-year-old defenseman made a terrific breakup of a 3-on-2 breakaway that kept the Avalanche scuffling to find the net themselves.

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Updated: 9:36 AM CDT

Hockey

Canadiens visit rested Hurricanes for Game 1 of Eastern Conference final

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Canadiens visit rested Hurricanes for Game 1 of Eastern Conference final

The Canadian Press 2 minute read 3:00 AM CDT

RALEIGH - The Montreal Canadiens are on the road once again, this time for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final.

Montreal will take on the Carolina Hurricanes tonight, looking to make their first Stanley Cup final appearance since 2021.

The Canadiens are coming off back-to-back seven-game series wins against Tampa Bay and Buffalo, finishing off the latter on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Hurricanes are in their second straight conference final but have not made it to the Cup final since winning it all in 2006.

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3:00 AM CDT

Hockey

Ottawa Charge players react after losing to the Montreal Victoire in the PWHL Walter Cup final in Ottawa, Wednesday May 20, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

‘Grateful’: Charge’s MacLeod reflects on season of adversity after Walter Cup loss

Lisa Wallace, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

‘Grateful’: Charge’s MacLeod reflects on season of adversity after Walter Cup loss

Lisa Wallace, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Updated: 7:47 AM CDT

OTTAWA - By all accounts, Carla MacLeod didn’t need to be behind the Ottawa Charge bench this season.

No one would have blamed the head coach for wanting to step away after sharing she had been diagnosed with breast cancer in late November, but MacLeod is not one to step away from a challenge.

Aside from taking two brief hiatuses to undergo treatment, the Charge head coach was on hand for games and practices with her trademark smile and upbeat attitude. But there’s no denying the toll this season had on the 43-year-old.

The Charge’s season came to an end Wednesday night with a 4-0 loss to the Montreal Victoire, who captured the Walter Cup in four games.

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Updated: 7:47 AM CDT

Hockey

Golden Knights roll to early lead, hold off Avs 4-2 to open Western Conference Final

Pat Graham, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Golden Knights roll to early lead, hold off Avs 4-2 to open Western Conference Final

Pat Graham, The Associated Press 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 11:19 PM CDT

DENVER (AP) — Dylan Coghlan scored his first playoff goal to get Vegas rolling, Carter Hart made 36 saves and the Golden Knights opened the Western Conference Final by holding off the Colorado Avalanche 4-2 on Wednesday night.

Trailing 3-0 in the third period, Colorado made it 3-2 with 2:21 remaining on a power-play goal from Gabriel Landeskog. Nic Dowd sealed it for Vegas with an empty-net goal.

Pavel Dorofeyev and Brett Howden also scored for the Golden Knights, who took advantage of several defensive miscommunications by the Avalanche as they juggled their blue-line pairings with Cale Makar sidelined by an upper-body injury.

Coghlan scored his first NHL goal since Dec. 17, 2021. The 28-year-old defenseman spent most of the season in the American Hockey League. He's played the last five postseason games with the recent injury to Jeremy Lauzon.

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Updated: Yesterday at 11:19 PM CDT

Hockey

Montreal Victoire win their first PWHL title, beating Ottawa 4-0 in Game 4

The Associated Press 3 minute read Updated: 12:28 AM CDT

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Abby Roque scored twice, Ann-Renée Desbiens made 23 saves and the Montreal Victoire won their first PWHL title, beating the Ottawa Charge 4-0 on Wednesday night in Game 4 of the Walter Cup Finals.

Maggie Flaherty and Lina Ljungblom also scored. Montreal opened the best-of-five series at home with two overtime victories, then fell 2-1 at Ottawa on Monday night. Home teams had won the last five finals games.

"Just so much love for this group,” Roque said. “I mean the things we have battled through these playoffs, it was just out of this world the amount of heart on this team. I love everybody and I couldn’t be prouder.”

The Minnesota Frost won the first two titles in league history, beating Ottawa in four games last year in the championship series. Montreal beat Minnesota in the semifinals this season.

Hockey

Washington Capitals re-sign Timothy Liljegren to a 2-year, $6.5 million contract

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Washington Capitals re-sign Timothy Liljegren to a 2-year, $6.5 million contract

The Associated Press 2 minute read Yesterday at 3:58 PM CDT

ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — The Washington Capitals re-signed defenseman Timothy Liljegren to a two-year contract worth $6.5 million.

General manager Chris Patrick announced the deal Wednesday. Liljegren will count $3.25 million against the salary cap next season and in 2027-28.

The right-handed-shooting Swede played just four games for the Capitals after they acquired him from San Jose at the trade deadline in early March. He could have a bigger role next season as part of a blue line that is not expected to have John Carlson back after Washington sent the pending free agent to Anaheim on the eve of the deadline.

Now 27, Liljegren has 94 points in 324 regular season and playoff games in the NHL, with the vast majority of that time spent with Toronto.

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Yesterday at 3:58 PM CDT

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Hockey

Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff, left, and Montreal Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis, right, shake hands following the overtime period in Game 7 of a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Monday, May 18, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Sabres reward coach Lindy Ruff with 2-year extension after breakthrough season

John Wawrow, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Sabres reward coach Lindy Ruff with 2-year extension after breakthrough season

John Wawrow, The Associated Press 4 minute read Yesterday at 1:48 PM CDT

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Having transformed the Buffalo Sabres into contenders again, Lindy Ruff will have the opportunity to build on the team’s breakthrough season by continuing his second stint as coach.

The Sabres on Wednesday announced signing Ruff to a two-year contract extension in a move coming two days after Buffalo’s 3-2 loss to Montreal in Game 7 of a second-round playoff series. Ruff was completing the second and final season of the contract he signed upon returning to Buffalo, where he spent 10 years as a player and has since become the franchise’s winningest coach.

The 66-year-old Ruff is a Jack Adams NHL coach of the year finalist following a season in which the Sabres ended a league-record 14-season playoff drought and won their first Atlantic Division title. In beating Boston in six games of a first-round series, Buffalo also advanced in the playoffs for the first time since the Ruff-coached team reached the Eastern Conference Final in 2007.

The re-signing was expected, with both sides reaching the parameters of an agreement over the past few weeks. The only delay was not to distract from the playoffs.

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Yesterday at 1:48 PM CDT

Hockey

US beats Germany 4-3 in shootout at ice hockey worlds, Switzerland and Sweden win big

The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

US beats Germany 4-3 in shootout at ice hockey worlds, Switzerland and Sweden win big

The Associated Press 3 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 5:20 PM CDT

ZURICH (AP) — Ryan Leonard scored the decisive penalty for the United States in a 4-3 shootout win over Germany at the ice hockey world championship on Wednesday.

Tommy Novak tied it at 3-3 for the U.S. with 5:47 left in regulation after Germany goaltender Philipp Grubauer was unable to hold onto the puck.

The defending champion Americans recovered from a 6-2 loss to Finland on Monday for their second win from four games and have five points in Group A in Zurich.

The Germans earned their first point.

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Updated: Yesterday at 5:20 PM CDT

Hockey

Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) stops Carolina Hurricanes winger Taylor Hall (71) on a breakaway in Montreal on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

Five things to know as Canadiens, Hurricanes face off in Eastern Conference final

Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Five things to know as Canadiens, Hurricanes face off in Eastern Conference final

Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 5:02 PM CDT

MONTREAL - Two paths, two Eastern Conference finalists.

The Montreal Canadiens and Carolina Hurricanes will face off in the third round of the Stanley Cup playoffs after taking completely different routes to get there.

The young, ascending Canadiens battled through a pair of gruelling seven-game matchups to reach the conference final. The experienced and regimented Hurricanes, meanwhile, swept through the opening two rounds behind their smothering play.

It’s a maximum number of games versus the minimum. Here are five things to know before the puck drops for Game 1 on Thursday night in Raleigh, N.C.

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Updated: Yesterday at 5:02 PM CDT

Hockey

Alex Newhook fans turn N.L. bars into ‘mini Bell Centres’ during Habs playoff games

Sarah Smellie, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Alex Newhook fans turn N.L. bars into ‘mini Bell Centres’ during Habs playoff games

Sarah Smellie, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 3:25 PM CDT

ST. JOHN'S -

Hockey fans in Alex Newhook's home province have gathered in bars and set aside politics as their hometown hero has helped secure the Montreal Canadiens a spot in the Eastern Conference final.

In the Newfoundland Embassy, a pub on the bottom floor of a bright red building in St. John's, the band hurried to the television between songs on Monday night to watch Game 7 between the Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres.

Nobody minded about the band, said Embassy co-owner Niall Hickey. Everybody was there for Newhook-mania.

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Updated: Yesterday at 3:25 PM CDT

Hockey

Minnesota Wild center Yakov Trenin (13) pushes Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (8) during the first period of Game 4 in a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Monday, May 11, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar misses 4-2 loss to Vegas in opener of Western Conference Final

Pat Graham, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar misses 4-2 loss to Vegas in opener of Western Conference Final

Pat Graham, The Associated Press 4 minute read Updated: 12:19 AM CDT

DENVER (AP) — At times, especially early, the Colorado Avalanche looked disjointed on defense. One player's absence made that big of difference.

With star defenseman Cale Makar sidelined by an upper-body injury, the Avalanche hardly resembled the top-seeded team that rolled through the first two rounds. They experimented with different line combinations in a 4-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday night in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final.

"There’s definitely a trickle-down effect to that,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said of not having Makar. “But he’s not playing. We have find a way.”

A few breakdowns led to some big plays. One of the biggest was Dylan Coghlan splitting the defense down the middle and scoring through the pads of goaltender Scott Wedgewood.

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Updated: 12:19 AM CDT

Hockey

Carolina Hurricanes' William Carrier (28) tries to get the puck past Philadelphia Flyers' Dan Vladar (80), Trevor Zegras (46) and Jamie Drysdale (9) during the third period of Game 4 in a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Hurricanes get another shot at Eastern Conference Final roadblock, this time against Canadiens

Aaron Beard, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Hurricanes get another shot at Eastern Conference Final roadblock, this time against Canadiens

Aaron Beard, The Associated Press 5 minute read Yesterday at 10:59 AM CDT

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Years of consistent regular-season success and postseason wins have again brought the Carolina Hurricanes to the Eastern Conference Final of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

That same roadblock.

The Hurricanes host the Montreal Canadiens to open their best-of-seven series Thursday night, the third time in four seasons they've reached the league semifinals. They're armed yet again with home-ice advantage, this time as the East's top seed. They've won all eight playoff games. And they're as rested as it gets with long breaks between both rounds.

But this has been the ceiling in an eight-year postseason run. They were swept in this round in 2019, again in 2023, then lost in five games here last year.

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Yesterday at 10:59 AM CDT

Hockey

Jaques, Keller and Winn shortlisted for PWHL’s defender of the year award

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Jaques, Keller and Winn shortlisted for PWHL’s defender of the year award

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Yesterday at 10:44 AM CDT

TORONTO - Sophie Jaques of the Vancouver Goldeneyes is one of three players on the shortlist for the PWHL's defender of the year award.

The 25-year-old from Toronto is up against Megan Keller and Haley Winn, both of the Boston Fleet.

Jaques, who was also nominated for the honour last season, had nine goals and 11 assists over 30 games for the expansion Goldeneyes. She became the first blueliner in league history to record 50 career points.

Keller, Boston's captain, had a career-high 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) to lead all PWHL defenders. She also averaged 26 minutes 40 seconds a game in ice time.

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Yesterday at 10:44 AM CDT

Hockey

Rockets hoping home crowd can spark another Memorial Cup run in Kelowna

Larry Fisher, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Rockets hoping home crowd can spark another Memorial Cup run in Kelowna

Larry Fisher, The Canadian Press 5 minute read 9:25 AM CDT

KELOWNA - Kelowna Rockets owner Bruce Hamilton isn’t thinking about legacy.

He is still trying to live in the moment, with the Rockets hosting the Memorial Cup for the first time since winning on home ice in 2004.

That tournament produced some of his fondest memories in hockey, and he hopes to replicate that atmosphere on and off the ice over the next 10 days in the Okanagan.

Hamilton moved the Rockets here, from Tacoma, Wash., in 1995, and they have played out of Prospera Place since 1999, with that arena receiving several upgrades for this showcase.

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9:25 AM CDT

Hockey

Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart, right, stops a shot off the stick of Colorado Avalanche left wing Gabriel Landeskog during the third period in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

From hockey exile to playoff spark: Carter Hart’s new chapter with the Golden Knights

Arnie Stapleton, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

From hockey exile to playoff spark: Carter Hart’s new chapter with the Golden Knights

Arnie Stapleton, The Associated Press 4 minute read Yesterday at 11:28 PM CDT

DENVER (AP) — So much has changed for Carter Hart since his last Stanley Cup playoffs run. The one constant is his stellar play in net.

In 2020, he was a 21-year-old starting goaltender for the Philadelphia Flyers, going 9-6 in their run to the second round in the Eastern Conference during the Toronto bubble, posting a .926 save percentage and two shutouts.

After serving time in hockey exile while mired in the Hockey Canada sexual assault scandal — for which he was acquitted — Hart joined the Vegas Golden Knights last December. He's sparked them in these playoffs, going 9-4 and helping the Golden Knights steal home ice with a 4-2 win at top-seeded Colorado in the opener of their Western Conference Final on Wednesday night.

“We know they’re a good team," said Hart, who has a .920 save percentage in these playoffs while allowing just 2.35 goals per game. “We know they got a lot of skill on their team and we respect that, but you can’t respect them too much. And I thought we did a good job of defending and limiting their time in space and I thought we blocked a lot of shots tonight and got in a lot of lanes and tied up some sticks.”

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Yesterday at 11:28 PM CDT

May 21, 2026

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