Canes Tie Stanley Cup Final at Two

Jackson Blake (North Dakota) tallied a goal and an assist in the first period, and Brandon Bussi (Western Michigan) stopped 18 of 21 shots in his first-ever NHL playoff start as the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the host Vegas Golden Knights, 5-3, last night in Nevada. The best-of-seven Stanley Cup Final is now tied at two games apiece, with Game Five slated for tomorrow night in Raleigh (8 p.m. ET, ABC, SN).

Carolina jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the first 20 minutes, with Vegas having a potential late goal waved off as it entered the net after time expired. The Golden Knights then tied the contest with two goals in the second stanza, before Jordan Staal scored his second goal of the game in the third period to lift the Hurricanes back into the lead, prior to Carolina tallying an empty-net goal for insurance late in regulation. Carolina outshot Vegas, 28-21, on the night, and also finished 1-for-3 on the power play.

ADDENDUM: Bussi stopped 23 shots, and Shayne Gostisbehere (Union) set up two goals as Carolina moved within a win of the Stanley Cup with a 4-2 victory in Game Five. Game Six is Sunday night in Las Vegas.

Vegas Takes Game Three in Double OT

Brandon Bussi (Western Michigan)  stopped 18 of 19 shots in relief, but couldn't prevent the game-winning goal as the Vegas Golden Knights rebounded for a 5-4 win over the Carolina Hurricanes last night in double overtime in Game Three of the 2006 Stanley Cup Final. Vegas now leads the series, two games to one.

Bussi took over in net for the Hurricanes at the start of the third period, with Carolina down 4-0, and backstopped them to a 4-4 tie before a Shea Theodore carom off the end boards glanced off his left pad and into the Hurricanes net to end Bussi's first appearance in this year's playoffs. Carolina scored three goals in 39 seconds in the third period and then added a power-play goal to force overtime, after Vegas had forged a four-goal lead in the second stanza, with Mitch Marner scoring three of those goals and assisting on the other.

Game Four of the best-of-seven NHL championship series is Tuesday night in Nevada.

Former NCAA Skaters in 2026 Stanley Cup Final

The 2026 Stanley Cup Final will feature a number of former NCAA players between the Vegas Golden Knights, who are seeking their second NHL title in four years, and the Carolina Hurricanes, who are pursuing their first crown since their last final appearance in 2006. Game One is tonight in North Carolina.

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS

Nic Dowd, F (St. Cloud State)

Jack Eichel, F (Boston University) #

Noah Hanifin, D (Boston College)

Ben Hutton, D (Maine)

Tanner Laczynski, F (Ohio State)

Jaycob Megna, D (Omaha)

Reilly Smith, F (Miami) #

CAROLINA HURRICANES

Jackson Blake, F (North Dakota)

Brandon Bussi, G (Western Michigan)

Shayne Gostisbehere, D (Union) *

Mark Jankowski, F (Providence) *

K'Andre Miller, D (Wisconsin)

Mike Reilly, D (Minnesota)

Eric Robinson, F (Princeton)

Jaccob Slavin, D (Colorado College)

Sean Walker, D (Bowling Green)

Only players who played for either team during the 2025-26 NHL season are included above

# Won Stanley Cup as a player

* Won NCAA title as a player 

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.

Golden Knights Tie Series with Utah

Jack Eichel (Boston University) set up three goals and Noah Hanifin (Boston College) had two assists as the visiting Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Utah Mammoth, 5-4, in overtime last night, in Game Four of their 2026 Stanley Cup Playoff series. The best-of-seven NHL Western Conference first-round matchup is now tied at two games apiece,

Nick Schmaltz (North Dakota) had a goal and assist for the Mammoth, who fought back from an early three-goal deficit to take a one-goal lead before Vegas came back to tie it in the third period prior to winning in OT. Game Five is Wednesday night in Las Vegas.

 

UMass Alum Quick Retires from NHL

Three-time Stanley Cup champion goaltender Jonathan Quick (Massachusetts) has called it a career.

Quick, 40, from Milford, Conn. played the final game of his 18-year NHL career by making 14 saves for the New York Rangers in a 3-2 loss at Florida on Monday. He finished his league tenure with a 410-307-90 record, a 2.51 goals-against average, and 65 shutouts in 829 regular-season outings with the Los Angeles Kings, who drafted him 72nd overall in 2005, the Vegas Golden Knights, and the Rangers, from 2008 to 2026. He also earned the Williams Jennings Trophy twice for lowest goals against, and posted 23 assists offensively, while also skating in two Olympic Winter Games with the United States.

Quick also fashioned a 49-43 mark over 92 career Stanley Cup playoff outings, backstopping Los Angeles to its first-ever NHL championships in both 2012 and 2014 while earning Conn Smythe Trophy playoff MVP accolades the first time. He won his third Stanley Cup as a backup in 2023 in his sole campaign with Vegas, and also played professionally with Manchester (AHL) and Reading (ECHL).

A product of Hamden (Conn.) High and Avon Old Farms, Quick spent two NCAA seasons at Massachusetts before turning pro in 2007. He went 23-22-6 with 2.79 GAA in 54 appearances with the Minutemen, earning Second Team All-America honors as a sophomore while also backstopping UMass to the NCAA tournament that same season.

BC's Hanifin Pulls Vegas into Series Tie

Boston College beat Boston University on Friday night in Nevada to keep the Vegas Golden Knights' title defense alive.

Noah Hanifin (Boston College) scored midway through the third period on Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (Boston University) at T-Mobile Arena, and host Vegas held on for a 2-0 win in Game Six of their Western Conference series in the NHL's 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The series is now tied, three games apiece.

Hanifin, who was acquired from the Calgary Flames earlier this year, picked off a Dallas clearing attempt near the Stars' blue line, skated low into the right circle, and beat Oettinger to the far side for the only goal the Golden Knights would need. Vegas then scored into an empty net with 19 seconds remaining in regulation, and Oettinger (28 saves) off the ice for an extra Dallas skater.

The deciding Game 7 will be held on Sunday at American Airlines Center in Dallas, with the home team having won the last two games in the series. Vegas is looking to continue on as Stanley Cup champions, after defeating Florida in last year's final.

ADDENDUM: Vegas' reign as Stanley Cup champs came to end with a 2-1 loss at Dallas in Game 7. Dallas will now take on Colorado in the Western Conference semifinals, beginning Tuesday night.

Vegas Wins First-Ever Stanley Cup

Reilly Smith (Miami) notched the decisive goal, Alec Martinez (Miami) added another score, and Jack Eichel (Boston University) posted three assists on the night as the Vegas Golden Knights won their first-ever Stanley Cup with a 9-3 rout of the visiting Florida Panthers on Tuesday night. Vegas won the best-of-seven series, four games to one, one year after missing the playoffs entirely..

Vegas, which made the Cup final during its inaugural NHL campaign in 2017-18 but lost to Washington, won its first championship in its sixth season after ousting Winnipeg, Edmonton and Dallas to claim the Western Conference crown. Florida, in the final for the first time since 1996, fell short again after defeating Boston, Toronto and Carolina to win the Eastern Conference this spring.

Smith tallied the game-winning goal just over 12 minutes into the second period to make it 4-1, less than two minutes after Martinez scored for Vegas before a record 19,058 on-lookers at T-Mobile Arena. Eichel, playing in his first-ever pro postseason, finished with 26 points on six goals and 20 assists in 22 games. In the final, he registered eight assists in five games. Martinez won his third career Cup, having previously helped the Los Angeles Kings to their first-ever league titles in 2012 and 2014.

Other former NCAA players on the Golden Knights' roster this spring included: Teddy Blueger (Minnesota State); Paul Cotter (Western Michigan); Ben Hutton (Maine); Phil Kessel (Minnesota); Jonathan Quick (UMass), and; Zach Whitecloud (Bemidji State). Kessel and Quick, who did not play in the final, each won their third Cup.

2023 Stanley Cup Final Starts Tonight

The 2023 Stanley Cup Final has arrived. A number of former NCAA players can be found on both sides as the Florida Panthers take on the Vegas Golden Knights, starting tonight in Nevada, as each club seeks its first-ever NHL postseason title:

Florida Panthers 

Zac Dalpe (Ohio State)

Casey Fitzgerald (Boston College)

Matthew Kiersted (North Dakota)

Spencer Knight (Boston College)

Ryan Lomberg (Maine)

Alex Lyon (Yale)

Colin White (Boston College)

Vegas Golden Knights

Teddy Blueger (Minnesota State)

Paul Cotter (Western Michigan)

Jack Eichel (Boston University)

Ben Hutton (Maine)

Phil Kessel (Minnesota) *

Alec Martinez (Miami) *

Jonathan Quick (UMass) *

Reilly Smith (Miami)

Zach Whitecloud (Bemidji State)

* Indicates previous Stanley Cup winner

The best-of-seven series continues Tuesday in Vegas, then shifts to Florida on Thursday and next Saturday for Games Three and Four. All games will start at 8 p.m. ET. (Sportsnet, TBS, TNT)

Vegas Advances to 2023 Stanley Cup Final

Reilly Smith (Miami) set up two goals and Alec Martinez (Miami) assisted on another as the Vegas Golden Knights advanced to the 2023 Stanley Cup Final with a 6-0 win over the host Dallas Stars in Game Six of the Western Conference final tonight.

After dropping the previous two contests in the series, the Golden Knights raced out to a 3-0 lead in the opening 20 minutes and cruised to their second-ever Stanley Cup Final appearance, and first since their inaugural NHL campaign in 2017-18. Reilly assisted on Vegas' second and sixth goals of the game, while Martinez helped set up Vegas' third goal and also finished with a plus-3 rating on the night

The Golden Knights will now face the Eastern Conference champion Florida Panthers in the best-of-seven Stanley Cup Final that begins on Saturday night in Nevada, with both clubs seeking their first-ever Stanley Cup title. Vegas fell to Washington in five games five years ago, while Florida was swept by Colorado in 1996 in the Panthers' only previous NHL finals appearance.

Eichel, Vegas Take Two Game Lead in NHL Semifinals

 

Jack Eichel (Boston University) made his first point of the Western Conference semifinals a major one. 

His behind-the-back pass to Jonathan Marchessault for the tying goal with 2:22 remaining in regulation set the stage for Chandler Stephenson's goal just over a minute into overtime that gave Vegas a two games-to-none lead over the visiting Dallas Stars on Sunday in their best-of-seven Stanley Cup Playoff series. Game Three is slated for Tuesday evening in Texas.

Eichel is now tied for sixth among NHL skaters with six goals and nine assists for 15 points in 13 NHL playoff games so far this spring, the first postseason games of his professional career. Ryan Suter (Wisconsin) assisted on both of Dallas' goals on Sunday, and currently has five assists/points in 15 postseason games to date this year, along with 6-33—39 points in 110 career NHL playoff outings dating back to 2007.

Former BC, BU Players Traded in Tuch and Eichel

A pair of former Hockey East players were part of a mega-trade in the NHL on Thursday.

Jack Eichel (Boston University), the No. 2 pick overall in the 2015 NHL Draft, was dealt from the Buffalo Sabres after six seasons to the Vegas Golden Knights, along with a 2023 third-round NHL draft choice. Going the other way to upstate New York were fellow forwards Alex Tuch (Boston College) and Peyton Krebs, along with a 2022 first-round NHL draft pick and a 2023 second-round selection.

Eichel, 25, from North Chelmsford, Mass., has tallied 139 goals and 216 assists for 355 points in 375 NHL outings, all in regular-season play, although he has been sidelined since last year due to a neck injury. He is expected to undergo surgery in the near future, and will be out for at least three months afterwards. In his only NCAA campaign in 2014-15 at BU, Eichel recorded 26-45—71 points in 40 outings, won the Hobey Baker Memorial Award as the nation's top player, and led the Terriers to the Beanpot tournament title, the Hockey East crown, and the NCAA championship game.

Tuch, 25, from Syracuse, N.Y., began his NHL career by playing six scoreless games with Minnesota, which drafted him 18th overall in 2014. Traded to Vegas in 2017, he helped the expansion Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season, and has notched 61-78—139 points in 255 regular-season NHL outings, to go with 19-14—33 points in 66 playoff games. He helped BC to two NCAA tournament berths and a Beanpot championship in his two seasons, scoring the winning goal himself in overtime in the 2016 Beanpot title game, and registered 32-30—62 points in 77 contests in all for the Eagles.

Both Eichel and Tuch are products of the U.S. National Team Development Program in Michigan, where they were teammates for two seasons.

NCAA Players Shine at NHL's Lake Tahoe Weekend

The 2021 NHL Outdoors weekend at Lake Tahoe in Stateline, Nevada has come and gone, with more than a few former NCAA players making their marks both nights.

On Saturday, the Colorado Avalanche edged the Vegas Golden Knights, 3-2. The game was postponed for nearly 10 hours following the daytime first period, due to the sun adversely affecting ice conditions. A shot by Devon Toews (Quinnipiac) from the left point with less then seven minutes remaining in regulation after the restart stood up as the game-winner for the Avalanche, who wore retro reverse jerseys that honored the franchise's previous incarnation as the Quebec Nordiques. Toews also had the lone assist on Colorado's second goal of the game.

Alex Tuch (Boston College) got Vegas back within a goal on his backhand shot in close with 5:35 left, but the Golden Knights couldn't garner the equalizer in the time left. Alec Martinez (Miami) also scored for Vegas.

On Sunday evening, James van Riemsdyk (New Hampshire) tallied one goal and set up two others, but his Philadelphia Flyers fell, 7-3, to the Boston Bruins. It was Boston's fifth win over Philadelphia so far this season in five meetings.

Charlie McAvoy (Boston University) and Charlie Coyle (Boston University) both tallied goals for Boston, with Coyle's second-period score standing up as the game-winner. Trent Frederic (Wisconsin) scored his first career NHL goal for the Bruins, who also got two assists apiece from Connor Clifton (Quinnipiac) and Craig Smith (Wisconsin).

Joel Farabee (Boston University) scored Philadelphia's first goal, while Kevin Hayes (Boston College) notched two assists. Brian Elliott (Wisconsin) stopped 12 of 13 shots on goal in the final period for the Flyers, after entering the game in relief. Boston outshot Philadelphia, 35-19, overall for the night.

There were no spectators present at either Lake Tahoe contest due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The two games were the 32nd and 33rd, respectively, in the NHL's modern outdoor series of matches that dates back to the 2003 Heritage Classic in Edmonton.

Providence's Dugan Signs with Vegas

Jack Dugan (Providence) is done at the NCAA level after two seasons.

The leading scorer for both the Friars and Division I men's hockey this past season, the Rochester, N.Y. native signed a professional contract earlier this week with the NHL's Vegas Golden Knights. He thus foregoes his final two seasons of college eligibility.

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound forward recorded 10 goals and 42 assists for 52 points in 34 games this past season, to go with 64 penalty minutes. In two years at Providence, Dugan, 22, posted 20-71—91 points in 75 overall outings, along with 114 PIM. As a freshman, he recorded 10 goals and 39 points in helping the Friars to a 24-win season and the NCAA Frozen Four in Buffalo.

Drafted by Vegas in the fifth round (142nd overall) of the 2017 NHL Draft, Dugan prepped with Chicago (USHL) prior to joining Providence in the fall of 2018. The current NHL season is still on hold due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which canceled the 2019-20 NCAA hockey campaign in March, including the NCAA tournament and Frozen Four.

Washington One Win from Stanley Cup

T.J. Oshie (North Dakota) opened the scoring in a three-goal first period on Monday night, and later added two assists as the Washington Capitals moved to within one victory of their first-ever NHL championship.

The Capitals opened the week with a 6-2 rout of the visiting Vegas Golden Knights at Capital One Arena in Game Four of the 2018 Stanley Cup Final. Washington now leads the best-of-seven series, three games to one, while having won the last three contests, including both played in Washington, D.C.

Reilly Smith (Miami) had one goal for Vegas, which hit several goal posts early on and then trailed, 4-0, after 40 minutes. The expansion Golden Knights, who have lost three straight games in regulation for the first time since Nov. 28-Dec. 1, then pulled within two goals in the final period before Washington tacked on two more scores in the final seven minutes of play.

The Capitals finished 3-for-5 on the power play despite being outshot, 30-23, overall for the evening. Washington also blocked 24 opposing shots in all, and killed off all four Vegas power plays.

The Caps will look to sew up the series—and the Stanley Cup—on Thursday night in Game Five at Vegas (8 p.m. ET; NBC TV, CBC TV).

Orpik Goal Boosts Caps to Game Two Win

A pair of former Boston College Eagles combined on the winning goal in Game Two of the 2018 Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday—even though they play for different teams.

Washington Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik, who helped BC to the 2001 NCAA title over North Dakota, scored the winning goal in the second period at T-Mobile Arena when his wrist shot from the right side went in off 2016 BC Beanpot Tournament hero Alex Tuch of the Vegas Golden Knights. The score stood up as the game-winner as the Caps defeated host Vegas, 3-2, to tie the best-of-seven NHL championship series at one game apiece. 

For Orpik, it was his first NHL goal since the 2015-16 NHL regular season, and his first Stanley Cup Playoff goal since 2014 with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He was a member of Pittsburgh's 2009 NHL championship team along with Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, who made 23 saves on Wednesday.

Tuch, who tallied the game-winning goal in overtime in BC's Beanpot championship game triumph two years ago against Boston University, had a chance to tie the game for Vegas on a point-blank shot with two minutes remaining in the third period, but was denied by Washington netminder Braden Holtby. Reilly Smith (Miami), who tallied goal and an assist in Vegas' 6-4 triumph on Monday, had one assist in Game Two.

Wednesday was also the first-ever victory in the Stanley Cup Final for Washington in six games all-time. The Caps were swept by Detroit in four contests in 1998.

Game Three will be held Saturday night in Washington, D.C. (8 p.m. ET; TV: NBCSN, CBC).

At Last it Begins ...

The 2018 Stanley Cup Final begins tonight in Las Vegas, and both the cinderella Vegas Golden Knights and the upstart Washington Capitals feature several former NCAA players on their rosters.

For Vegas, the college roll call includes Ryan Carpenter (Bowling Green), Erik Haula (Minnesota), Jason Garrison (Minnesota-Duluth), Brad Hunt (Bemidji State), John Merrill (Michigan), Brandon Pirri (Rensselaer), Nate Schmidt (Minnesota), Reilly Smith (Miami), Alex Tuch (Boston College) and Zach Whitecloud (Bemidji State), according to hockeydb.com.

For Washington, its NCAA alumni include Jay Beagle (Alaska Anchorage), Travis Boyd (Minnesota), Alex Chiasson (Boston University), Pheonix Copley (Michigan Tech), Aaron Ness (Minnesota) Matt Niskanen (Minnesota-Duluth), Brooks Orpik (Boston College) and T.J. Oshie (North Dakota). 

Game Two of the NHL's championship tilt will be held Wednesday in Nevada, before the best-of-seven series shifts to Washington, D.C. on Saturday.

Tuch Goal Boosts Vegas to Game Three Victory

A goal by Alex Tuch (Boston College) in the ninth minute of the second period stood up as the game-winner as the Vegas Golden Knights edged the visiting Winnipeg Jets, 3-2, in Game Three of their 2018 Stanley Cup Playoff Western Conference semifinal series. Vegas now leads the best-of-seven NHL postseason series, two games to one.

Tuch's goal, his fifth of these playoffs, gave Vegas a 3-1 lead at the time, after Erik Haula (Minnesota) had assisted on the Golden Knights' second goal. Blake Wheeler (Minnesota) set up both Winnipeg goals, while Connor Hellebuyck (UMass Lowell) made 27 saves for the Jets.

Game Four will be held Friday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (8 p.m. ET, NBCSN, CBC).