Claude Lemieux 1965-2026

Canes Push Canadiens to Brink of Elimination

Shayne Gostisbehere (Union) set up two goals, and K'Andre Miller (Wisconsin) and Jackson Blake (North Dakota) also recorded assists as the visiting Carolina Hurricanes blanked the Montreal Canadiens, 4-0, last night in Game Four of their NHL Eastern Conference series. Carolina now leads the best-of-seven series, three games to one.

Jakub Dobes (Ohio State) stopped 39 shots for the Canadiens, who were outshot, 43-18, on the night. Montreal, which will be facing elimination on Friday night in Game Five in North Carolina, is 7-3 on the road so far in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

ADDENDUM: Blake notched a goal and an assist, and Gostisbehere and Eric Robinson (Princeton) also scored as the Hurricanes topped Montreal, 6-1, in Game Five to win the Eastern Conference title. Carolina will now meet Vegas in the 2026 Stanley Cup Final, starting Tuesday night in Raleigh.

U.S. Advances to Worlds Quarterfinals

The United States, defending champion at the IIHF World Championship, advanced to this year's quarterfinal round with a 4-1 win over Austria today in Switzerland. U.S. goal scorers included Connor Clifton (Quinnipiac), Ryan Ufko (UMass) and Paul Cotter (Western Michigan), while Devin Cooley (Denver) finished with 25 saves in net for the Americans. 

Team USA, which finished fourth in Group B, will now take on second-ranked Canada on Thursday in an elimination contest. The Canadians advanced with a 3-2 victory over Czechia today, thanks to two goals by Macklin Celebrini (Boston University).

ADDENDUM: Canada ousted the U.S. with a 4-0 victory, and will play Finland in the semifinals.

Hurricanes Ties Series with Habs

Mark Jankowski (Providence) notched two assists, including one on the game-winning goal, as the Carolina Hurricanes knotted their best-of-seven Eastern Conference series at one game apiece with a 3-2 overtime victory over the visiting Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.

Eric Robinson (Princeton) scored a goal for the second straight game for Carolina, which rebounded from its first loss in these Stanley Cup Playoffs with its ninth victory in 10 NHL postseason contests this spring. Jakub Dobes (Ohio State) stopped 23 shots for Montreal, which was outshot, 26-12. Game Three is Monday night in Montreal. 

ADDENDUM: The Hurricanes took a two games to one lead with a 3-2 OT victory in Game Three. 

Vegas Goes Up Two Games on Avalanche

Jack Eichel (Boston University) scored the tying goal and then assisted on the eventual game-winner, both in a two-minute span midway through the third period, as the Vegas Golden Knights topped the host Colorado Avalanche, 3-1, on Friday night in Game Two of the 2026 NHL Western Conference final in Denver. Vegas now leads the best-of-seven Stanley Cup Playoff series, two games to none.

Ross Colton (Vermont) scored the game-opening goal for Colorado, which had fallen, 4-2, in Game One on Wednesday. Colton's goal stood up from the first period on until Eichel knotted matters in the final frame, before Vegas went ahead and then added an empty-net tally for insurance with less than two minutes remaining in regulation. The top-seeded Avalanche, who were missing all-star defenseman Cale Makar (UMass) for the second straight game, outshot Vegas, 30-25, and won 34 of 58 faceoffs on the night.

Game Three is Sunday night in Las Vegas.

ADDENDUM: The Golden Knights rebounded from a 3-0 deficit after the first 20 minutes of Game Three to lock up a 5-3 victory and move within one game of their third Stanley Cup Final in their nine-year existence.

Montreal Wins 2026 PWHL Championship

Abby Roque (Wisconsin) scored two goals, including the game-winner, as the visiting Montreal Victoire blanked the Ottawa Charge, 4-0, on Wednesday to earn the 2026 Professional Women's Hockey League title. Montreal won the best-of-five series, three games to one, to become the first Canadian club to lift the Walter Cup as PWHL postseason champion.

Ann-Renée Desbiens (Wisconsin) of the Victoire stopped 23 shots for the shutout, while Gwyneth Philips (Northeastern) made 12 saves for Ottawa, which had forced a fourth game after dropping the first two contests of the series. Montreal's Marie-Philip Poulin (Boston University) was named PWHL playoff MVP after recording two goals and six assists for eight points in nine games, tying Roque for the playoff lead.

Habs Oust Sabres in Game Seven OT

Alex Newhook (Boston College) scored just over 11 minutes into overtime for his second straight game-winning goal in a Game Seven this spring, and the Montreal Canadiens ousted the host Buffalo Sabres, 3-2, on Monday in the deciding contest of their 2026 Stanley Cup Playoff matchup. Montreal wins the Eastern Conference semifinal series, four games to three, including victories in the last two games played in Buffalo. 

Newhook, who won the Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2022, finished this series with six goals in seven games after also notching the game-winner in Game Seven of the first round at Tampa Bay. Jakub Dobes (Ohio State) stopped 37 shots last night for the Canadiens, who advance to the conference finals for the first time in five years. Jordan Greenway (Boston University) scored the first goal of the night for the Sabres, who were competing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2011.

Montreal will now face the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference final starting on Thursday.

Sabres Force Game Seven with Canadiens

Tage Thompson (UConn) assisted on three goals, and also scored one into an empty net as the visiting Buffalo Sabres staved off elimination last night with an 8-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens in Game Six of their 2026 Stanley Cup Playoff second-round series, which is now tied at three games apiece.

Jason Zucker (Denver) had a goal and assist for the Sabres, who scored seven consecutive unanswered goals over the final 46 minutes of play after falling behind, 3-1, in the first period. Buffalo's Zach Metsa (Quinnipiac) also tallied his first career playoff goal in his first NHL postseason appearance. Alex Lyon (Yale) made one save on four shots for the Sabres in goal, before being replaced by Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.

Jakub Dobes (Ohio State) stopped 27 of 33 shots for the Canadiens before giving way late in regulation to Jacob Fowler (Boston College), who made his own Stanley Cup Playoff debut in relief. The deciding Game Seven of this Eastern Conference semifinal is Monday night in Buffalo, with the winner to face the Carolina Hurricanes in the conference final.

Canada Blanks Italy at 2026 Men's Worlds

Macklin Celebrini (Boston University) scored two goals and set up another, and Dylan Holloway (Wisconsin) notched a goal and an assist as Canada continued its international success with a 6-0 victory over Italy at the 2026 IIHF World Championship in Switzerland today. Cam Talbot (Alabama-Huntsville) stopped 19 shots for the shutout.

Canada opened this year's Worlds with a 5-3 victory over Sweden on Friday. Porter Martone (Michigan State) had two assists for the Canadians in that contest, and now has three assists so far over two games. Canada will next face Denmark on Monday.

Canadiens Take 3-2 Series Lead over Sabres

Lane Hutson (Boston University) set up two goals, and Cole Caufield scored for the third straight game, as the Montreal Canadiens moved within one win of the Eastern Conference final with a 6-3 victory over the host Buffalo Sabres last night. Montreal, which trailed, 3-2, after 20 minutes of play, now leads the best-of-seven 2026 Stanley Cup Playoff series, three games to two.

Josh Doan (Arizona State) scored Buffalo's second goal, assisted by Owen Power (Michigan), as the Sabres outshot Montreal, 36-26, on the evening. Alex Newhook (Boston College) drew an assist on the game-winning goal for the Canadiens, giving him six points so far in five games. Jakub Dobes (Ohio State) made 33 saves in net for Montreal, which can wrap matters up Saturday night at home in Game Six. The series winner will face the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference final.

In the Western Conference last night, the visiting Vegas Golden Knights routed the Anaheim Ducks, 5-1, to wrap up that quarterfinal series in five games. The Golden Knights will now face the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference final.

Avalanche Eliminates Wild in Five Games

Jack Drury (Harvard) pulled his team within a goal late in the third period, and the Colorado Avalanche went on to top the Minnesota Wild, 4-3, in overtime on Thursday in their Western Conference quarterfinal. The Avalanche, who overcame a 3-0 deficit after one period of play, won the best-of-seven 2026 Stanley Cup Playoff series in five games.

Devon Toews (Quinnipiac) assisted on Drury's goal, and finished the series with a goal and four assists over five games. Nico Sturm (Clarkson) set up two goals for the Wild, which was seeking its first NHL conference final berth since 2003. Colorado, which outshot Minnesota on the night, 34-20, advanced to its first Western Conference final since it won the Stanley Cup in 2022. 

Sabres Tie Up Series with Canadiens

Tage Thompson (UConn) tied the game on a fluke goal in the second period, and then assisted on the game-winner early in the third stanza, to lift the Buffalo Sabres to a 3-2 victory over the host Montreal Canadiens last night in Game Four of their NHL Eastern Conference quarterfinal series. The second-round 2026 Stanley Cup Playoff matchup is now tied at two games apiece, with Game Five set for Thursday night in Buffalo.

Josh Doan (Arizona State) finished with two assists for the Sabres, who went 2-for-4 on the power play, including Thompson's blueline goal that banked off the left wing boards and into the Canadiens net. Alex Newhook (Boston College) scored his fifth goal in the last three games for Montreal, which also got a power-play goal from Cole Caufield (Wisconsin) and 19 saves in net from Jakub Dobes (Ohio State).

Avalanche Put Wild on Brink of Elimination

Jack Drury (Harvard) set up the game-winning goal in the third period, and the Colorado Avalanche moved one step away from the Western Conference Final with a 5-2 victory at the Minnesota Wild last night. Colorado now leads the best-of-seven 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs series, three games to one.

Ross Colton (Vermont) put the Avalanche up, 2-1, in the final frame before Nico Sturm (Clarkson) tied matters less than three minutes later for the Wild. After Drury's heroics, Colorado closed out the contest with two empty-net goals, the second by Brock Nelson (North Dakota), and outshot Minnesota, 34-21, on the night.

Game Five and a potential clinching contest for the Avs is Thursday night in Denver.

Canadiens Take Lead over Sabres, Ducks Tie Vegas

Cutter Gauthier (Boston College) tallied three assists as the Anaheim Ducks tied their Stanley Cup Playoff series with a 4-3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday night. The best-of-seven Western Conference matchup is now tied at two games apiece, with Game Five set for Tuesday night in Las Vegas. Alex Killorn (Harvard) notched a goal and an assist for the Ducks, while Jack Eichel (Boston University) set up two goals for the Golden Knights.

In the Eastern Conference, the host Montreal Canadiens took a two game to one lead with a 6-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres in Game Three of their series on Sunday. Alex Newhook (Boston College) notched his second two-goal game of the series for the Canadiens, who also got two points apiece from Cole Caufield (Wisconsin) and Lane Hutson (Boston University), plus 26 saves in net from Jakub Dobes (Ohio State). Tage Thompson (UConn) scored a goal and added an assist for the Sabres, who got 32 stops from Alex Lyon (Yale). Game Four is Tuesday in Montreal.

 

Hurricanes Advance, Wild Triumphs

Jackson Blake (North Dakota) scored two goals, including the game-winner in overtime, and added an assist as the Carolina Hurricanes edged the host Philadelphia Flyers, 3-2, early last night. The Hurricanes swept the best-of-seven Eastern Conference series, four games to zero, and are now 8-0 so far in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Trevor Zegras (Boston University) and Porter Martone (Michigan State) both assisted on Philadelphia's game-opening goal as the Flyers finished their longest playoff run since 2000. Carolina will now await the winner of the Buffalo-Montreal series, which is tied at one game apiece.

Late Saturday night, the Minnesota Wild climbed back into their Western Conference series with a 5-1 victory over the visiting Colorado Avalanche. Quinn Hughes (Michigan), Brock Faber (Minnesota) and Matt Boldy (Boston College) scored goals for the Wild, handing top-seeded Colorado its first loss so far this postseason, while Faber also posted two assists. Game Three will be held in St. Paul on Monday night, with the Avalanche still leading the series, two games to one.

Canadiens Knot Series with Sabres

Alex Newhook (Boston College) scored two goals, and Mike Matheson (Boston College) notched the game-winner as the visiting Montreal Canadiens evened their 2026 Stanley Cup Playoff second-round series with the Buffalo Sabres last night. The best-of-seven NHL Eastern Conference matchup is now tied up at one game apiece, with Game Three set for Montreal on Sunday night.

Lane Hutson (Boston University) assisted on Newhook's first goal, while Jakub Dobes (Ohio State) finished with 29 saves in net for the Canadiens. Josh Doan (Arizona State) assisted on Buffalo's lone goal late in the second period, long after Montreal had built a 3-0 lead. Alex Tuch (Boston College) of the Sabres led all skaters with seven shots on goal. Both teams went 0-for-5 on the power play.

 

Donato Steps Down as Harvard Head Coach

Ted Donato has stepped down as Harvard University's men's hockey head coach after 22 years at the helm of his alma mater.

"It is with immense gratitude that I have decided to end my tenure at Harvard as head coach of the Men's Hockey program," said Donato at gocrimson.com. "I am proud and grateful for all the incredible moments, everlasting memories, and relationships from my 27 years connected to the University as a student-athlete, coach, and parent."   

A 1991 Harvard graduate who led the Crimson to the NCAA title as a sophomore, the Boston native compiled a 334-292-77 record from 2004 to 2026 that included eight NCAA tournament berths, including a Frozen Four appearance in 2017 in Chicago. His coaching ledger in Cambridge, Mass. also included six seasons of 20 or more wins, four ECAC Hockey tournament titles, and four Ivy league crowns. The winningest coach in Harvard men's hockey history, he also helped guide the United States to a gold medal at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship as an assistant.

Donato, 57, starred at Catholic Memorial High School before going on to play four years at forward at Harvard, where he collected 50 goals and 94 assists for 144 points in 106 career games. A fifth-round draft choice of the Boston Bruins in 1987, he went on to skate in 796 career NHL regular-season outings with Boston, Ottawa, Anaheim, Dallas, Los Angeles, St. Louis, the New York Islanders and the New York Rangers, compiling 150-197—347 points over 13 campaigns, along with 8-10—18 points in 58 career Stanley Cup Playoff appearances. He was also a 1992 U.S Olympian, and played in two IIHF World Championships. His son, Ryan, also a Harvard alumnus, is a current member of the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks, while younger son Jack also played for his father at Harvard.

The university is expected to begin an immediate national search for Donato's successor.

 

Sabres Take Lead Over Canadiens

Josh Doan (Arizona State) scored one goal and set up another, and Jordan Greenway (Ohio State) added another goal as the Buffalo Sabres topped the visiting Montreal Canadiens, 4-2, in Game One of their 2026 NHL Eastern Conference semifinal series tonight. 

Alex Lyon (Yale) made 26 saves for the Sabres, who are skating in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2007, the last time they qualified for postseason play. Jakub Dobes (Ohio State) had 12 stops for the Canadiens, who continued their pattern of win-lose so far in these playoffs.

Game Two is Friday night in Buffalo.

Canadiens Oust Lightning in Seven Games

The Montreal Canadiens have advanced to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2021. A third-period goal by Alex Newhook (Boston College) stood up as the game-winner as the Habs edged the host Tampa Bay Lightning, 2-1, on Sunday in the seventh and deciding game of their first-round NHL Eastern Conference series. 

Jakub Dobes (Ohio State) made 28 saves in net for Montreal, which was outshot, 29-9, overall. The Canadiens will now face the Buffalo Sabres in the best-of-seven second round, starting Wednesday in upstate New York.

Hurricanes Take Early Lead Over Flyers

Jackson Blake (North Dakota) tallied a goal and an assist as the Carolina Hurricanes opened the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 3-0 win last night over the visiting Philadelphia Flyers. Carolina leads the best-of-seven Eastern Conference second-round series, one game to none.

The Hurricanes outshot the Flyers, 23-19, as both teams went 0-for-4 on the power play. Game Two of the first-ever postseason meeting between the two NHL clubs is Monday night in Raleigh.

Sabres Win First Playoff Series Since 2007

Alex Tuch (Boston College) and Josh Norris (Michigan) scored the first and last goals of the game, respectively, and the Buffalo Sabres moved on to the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 4-1 victory over the Boston Bruins last night. Buffalo wins the best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round series, four games to two.

Tage Thompson (UConn) had two assists and Alex Lyon (Yale) stopped 25 shots as the Sabres won their first postseason series since 2007. Prior to this year, the Sabres had not made the playoffs in 14 seasons, which set an NHL record. Buffalo will now face the winner of the Montreal-Tampa Bay series, which will wrap up with a deciding seventh game tomorrow night in Florida.

Two More NHL Western Playoff Series End

Troy Terry (Denver) and Chris Kreider (Boston College) each scored a goal and set up two others, and Cutter Gauthier (Boston College) notched a goal and an assist as the host Anaheim Ducks eliminated the Edmonton Oilers from the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 5-2 victory last night. Anaheim won the best-of-seven Western Conference series, four games to two, its first postseason series victory since 2017, ousting an Oilers club that had won the NHL's Western Conference the last two seasons. Edmonton's Zach Hyman (Michigan) had a goal disallowed for a kicking motion in the second period. The Ducks will now face the winner of the Utah-Vegas series in the conference semifinals.

The Minnesota Wild won their first Stanley Cup Playoff series since 2015 as Quinn Hughes (Michigan) recorded two goals and an assist in a 5-2 victory over the visiting Dallas Stars on Thursday. Minnesota won the best-of-seven Western Conference series, four games to two, and will now take on top-seeded Colorado in the second round. Matt Boldy (Boston College) sealed the win yesterday with two empty-net goals for the Wild, while Jake Oettinger (Boston University) made 16 saves for the Stars.