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.

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. 

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.

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.

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).

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.

 

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.

Montreal Takes Back Series Lead Over Tampa Bay

Lane Hutson (Boston University) scored on a slapshot just over two minutes into overtime Friday night to give the host Montreal Canadiens a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Montreal now leads the best-of-seven series, two games to one.

Jakub Dobes (Ohio State) made 15 saves in net for the Canadiens, who are seeking their first NHL playoff series win since 2021. Jake Guentzel (Omaha) assisted on Tampa Bay's first goal of the night. All three games of this series so far have been decided in OT.

Game Four is scheduled for Sunday night in Montreal. 

U-M, MSU Help Winnipeg to Win in Game Five

Kyle Conner (Michigan) scored one goal and set up two others, and Mason Appleton (Michigan State) had three assists as the Winnipeg Jets won Game Five of their first-round Stanley Cup Playoff series, 5-3, over visiting St. Louis last night. The Jets now lead the best-of-seven series, three games to two.

Connor Hellebuyck (UMass Lowell) finished with 16 stops in earning the win for Winnipeg, after being pulled in the previous two games in St. Louis. Jimmy Snuggerud (Minnesota) scored the second goal yesterday for the Blues, who will try to stave off elimination tomorrow night at home in Game Six.

Two other series ended last night, both wrapping up in five games. Washington upended Montreal, 4-1, despite 24 saves by Jakub Dobes (Ohio State), while defending NHL champion Florida ousted Tampa Bay, 6-3. Carolina had previously advanced to the second round after besting New Jersey in five games, while the remaining four Stanley Cup Playoff series could all end tonight.

NCAA Alumni Boost Habs to Playoff Win

The Montreal Canadiens clawed their way back into their first-round Stanley Cup Playoff series tonight, thanks to contributions from several former NCAA skaters.

Cole Caufield (Wisconsin) and Alex Newhook (Boston College) each tallied a goal and an assist, and rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes (Ohio State) stopped seven of eight shots in 20 minutes of relief to pick up the win in Montreal's 6-3 victory tonight over the visiting Washington Capitals. The Canadiens now trail the best-of-seven NHL postseason series, two games to one. 

Jake Evans (Notre Dame), Lane Hutson (Boston University) and Mike Matheson (Boston College) also recorded assists, as the Habs won their first postseason contest since the 2020 Stanley Cup Final against Tampa Bay. Game Four against Washington is slated for Sunday at the Bell Centre in Montreal.

ADDENDUM: New Jersey also rebounded in its series against visiting Carolina, winning 3-2 in overtime on Friday to close within two games to one as defenseman Brian Dumoulin (Boston College) recorded 36-plus minutes of ice time for the victors. Edmonton did likewise in Game Three of its series Friday with visiting Los Angeles, winning by a 7-4 count as Zach Hyman (Michigan) notched two assists to help make it a two to one series.