Stanley Cup playoffs daily: Previews, stats, schedule, bracketESPN staffMay 24, 2026, 07:30 AM ETMultiple Authors
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With two games played in each series of the conference finals round, the Stanley Cup Final matchup is closer to being determined.
The Vegas Golden Knights return home with a 2-0 series lead over the Colorado Avalanche, with Game 3 the next battle on the docket on Sunday (8 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Cale Makar has missed both games in this series thus far. Will he return for Game 3?
Here’s a look at key stats to know ahead of Sunday’s showdown, as well as highlights from Saturday and updated playoff stats leaders.
Read more:
Full schedule
Playoff Central
Stanley Cup odds
Experts’ picks
Offseason guide for eliminated teams
Sunday’s schedule
Colorado Avalanche at Vegas Golden Knights
Game 3, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN) | VGK leads 2-0
Teams with a 2-0 lead in best-of-seven playoff series have gone on to win the matchup 86% of the time in Stanley Cup playoff history; specifically, teams leading 2-0 have had a 365-58 series record, including 5-0 in 2026.
The only team to lose both games at home then win a conference finals/Stanley Cup semifinals series was the 1945 Detroit Red Wings against the Boston Bruins.
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With a goal in Game 2, Jack Eichel snapped a 10-game goal drought, which was the second longest of his playoff career (he went 12 games without a goal in 2023).
Teammate Ivan Barbashev has scored four of his five goals this postseason in the third period; that’s tied for the second-most third-period goals with Matt Boldy, behind Nathan MacKinnon (five).
Carter Hart now has 10 wins this postseason (in 14 games), which puts him into a tie for third in franchise history with Robin Lehner (who reached 10 wins in 19 games). The pair are behind Adin Hill (17 wins in 30 games) and Marc-Andre Fleury (28 wins in 47 games).
Colorado’s Ross Colton scored his second goal of the postseason, which is his most in a single playoff run since 2022 with the Tampa Bay Lightning (five) — when the Lightning lost to the Avs in the Stanley Cup Final.
MacKinnon was riding a seven-game point streak heading into Game 2, which was snapped.
Scott Wedgewood stopped 22 of 24 shots (.917 save percentage) in the Game 2 defeat, and this was the third time this postseason that he lost a shutout bid in the third period.
Sunday’s best bet
The bet: Mitch Marner anytime goal scorer (+225)
Elbowing himself into pole position for the Conn Smythe Trophy (+370), the former Maple Leaf — and his dominant play in all situations this postseason — is a significant reason why the Golden Knights find themselves in the driver’s seat out west. Forging instant chemistry with William Karlsson and Brett Howden several games into the playoffs, Marner leads all skaters with 19 points, including seven goals.
While not registering a point in Friday’s 3-1 victory over Colorado, the gifted forward still headed his squad with four shots and 1.07 ixG (individual expected goals), according to Evolving Hockey. It’s hardly unreasonable to foresee Marner finding the back of the net again against a desperate Avalanche team on Sunday. — Victoria Matiash
Saturday’s scoreboard
Carolina Hurricanes 3, Montreal Canadiens 2 (OT)
Series tied 1-1
The “rest rust” on the Hurricanes evident in Game 1 appears to have vanished, as the home team looked much more like the Carolina Hurricanes from the jump in Game 2. The Canes benefited from another early goal — this one a seeing-eye deflection off the stick of Eric Robinson — before Josh Anderson scored later in the first period to knot the game at 1-1 after one. Nikolaj Ehlers made a nifty move to slice through the Montreal defense and get the puck past Jakub Dobes at 17:03 of the second, and the score would remain 2-1 Carolina after two.
It would remain 2-1 Canes until 12:51 of the third, when Anderson scored his second goal of the game. Despite a number of chances in the final 7:09, neither team could manage another tally, and the game was off to overtime. The gathered Caniacs didn’t have to wait long to launch into a full-bridled celebration, as Ehlers scored his second goal of the game on a slightly different — but no less nifty — move. The series heads to la belle province for Games 3 and 4, beginning on Monday. Full recap | Grades
Playoff scoring leaders
PlayerGPGAP1. Mitch Marner, F, Golden Knights
Click here for full list of stats leaders.
Playoff goaltending leaders
PlayerGPWGAASV%1. Arturs Silovs, Penguins
Click here for the full list of goaltender stats.
Stanley Cup playoff bracket
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