Stanley Cup playoffs daily: Previews, stats, schedule, bracketESPN staffMay 25, 2026, 07:30 AM ETMultiple Authors
tamil yogi
Though the Vegas Golden Knights hold a 3-0 edge over the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference finals, the matchup in the East is even after two games.
The Montreal Canadiens are hosting the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday in Game 3 (8 p.m. ET, TNT).
Which team will earn the all-important victory — and which players will be most critical to the outcome?
Here’s a look at key stats to know ahead of Monday’s matchup, as well as highlights from Sunday and updated playoff stats leaders.
Read more:
Full schedule
Playoff Central
Stanley Cup odds
Experts’ picks
Offseason guide for eliminated teams
Monday’s schedule
Carolina Hurricanes at Montreal Canadiens
Game 3, 8 p.m. ET (TNT) | Series tied 1-1
In Stanley Cup playoff history, when a series is tied 1-1, the winner of Game 3 has won the series 66% of the time, including a 5-2 record in 2026.
The Hurricanes have won 50% of their best-of-seven series that began 1-1, while the Canadiens have won 58%.
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How the Canadiens mastered the art of ‘bouncing forward’
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Storm surge! Grades and takeaways from the Hurricanes’ critical Game 2 win
Nikolaj Ehlers’ Game 2 overtime winning goal was the second such goal of his playoff career, the first coming as a member of the Winnipeg Jets in 2021 against the Edmonton Oilers. This was his first career multigoal playoff game as a Hurricane. He is the fourth player in franchise history with a multigoal game that included an OT winner, joining Jackson Blake (2026 second round), Sebastian Aho (2025 first round and 2021 first round) and Ray Sheppard (1999 conference quarterfinals).
Ehlers’ teammate Eric Robinson scored a goal in Games 1 and 2. He had two goals in 33 previous playoff games.
Montreal’s Josh Anderson also had two goals in Game 2, which was his third career multigoal playoff game. He is the fifth Canadien to score multiple tying goals in a playoff game, joining Alexei Kovalev (2008 conference semifinal), Brent Gilchrist (1991 division semifinal), Maurice Richard (1947 Stanley Cup semifinal and 1946 Stanley Cup Final) and Howie Morenz (1930 Stanley Cup quarterfinal).
In the Habs’ nine playoff wins, captain Nick Suzuki has 13 points, including three goals. In seven playoff losses, Suzuki has two points, both assists, including no points and a minus-1 in Game 2
Monday’s best bet
The bet: Cole Caufield anytime goal scorer (+170)
If you are hesitant to back a side after two completely different games in Raleigh, look to the prop market for the ultimate venue-change angle. In Game 2, Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour used his final change to bury Montreal’s top line under a mountain of Jordan Staal and Jaccob Slavin, entirely neutralizing Caufield to just a single shot on goal. That was a massive adjustment after Game 1 when the Habs’ top line feasted with far less restrictive coverage.
Back at the Bell Centre, Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis gets the luxury of the last change. Expect him to aggressively hunt offensive-zone starts to get his premier sniper away from Carolina’s elite shutdown skaters. Caufield already has five goals this postseason and answered back just 27 seconds after Carolina’s opening tally in Game 1 when the matchup wasn’t locked down. Trust him to feed off the home crowd and find the back of the net. — Sean Allen
Sunday’s scoreboard
Vegas Golden Knights 5, Colorado Avalanche 3
Golden Knights lead 3-0
After two wins by the Golden Knights in Denver, the road team again looked stronger to start Game 3. The Avs scored two quick goals in the first 7:03 — off the sticks of Gabriel Landeskog and Nazem Kadri. On a power play later in the first, the Knights appeared to score their first of the game off a slick “bunt” by Pavel Dorofeyev, but the goal was waved off on the ice and validated as no goal on replay review. Moments later, Jack Drury scored shorthanded for the Avs, giving them a 3-0 lead after one frame.
The game was completely different thereafter. Mark Stone scored 19 seconds into the second period, and William Karlsson scored his first of the postseason less than four minutes later to draw Vegas within one. It was only a matter of time before Keegan Kolesar scored his first of the playoffs to knot the score at 3-3, which is where it stood after the second period. Then, 8:21 into the third, Tomas Hertl received a superb tipped pass from Stone, then darted in on goal where he scored the goal to give Vegas a lead they’d never relinquish. Brett Howden added his 10th of the playoffs on an empty net, and the Knights will have a chance at a sweep in Tuesday’s Game 4. 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.
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