NHL Morning Skate: Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition – May 16, 2026

May 16, 2026

* The Canadiens have benefited from depth scoring throughout the Second Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs and return to Bell Centre with an opportunity to advance to the final four of a postseason for the fifth time since the 1990s.

* The Sabres have their sights on earning a road win to force a Game 7 for the second time in franchise history and will look to the services of Tage Thompson – who is averaging 1.00 points per game in his first-ever postseason.

* The Stanley Cup Playoffs can require at least one Game 7 in each of the first two rounds for the fifth consecutive year and tie second-longest stretch in NHL history.

* Taylor Hall and Martin Necas are just two of a handful of players to watch heading into the Conference Finals.

BELL CENTRE READY TO HOST CANADIENS AND SABRES FOR CRITICAL GAME 6

The Canadiens return home to Bell Centre with an opportunity to eliminate their Atlantic Division rivals when the puck drops for Game 6 of the NHL’s last remaining Second Round series of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. When leading 3-2 in a best-of-seven series, Montreal has ousted the opposition with a home-ice victory in Game 6 on seven of nine occasions in franchise history while Buffalo eyes a road victory to force a Game 7 for the second time in franchise history (Game 6 of 1997 CQF at OTT).

* With a Buffalo win, the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs can become the 19th consecutive postseason to feature multiple Game 7s – extending the longest streak in NHL history, ahead of 1986 to 1997 (12 straight).

* Scoring depth, highlighted by six players with five or more points in the series, has propelled the Canadiens to within one win of the franchise’s fifth appearance in the final four since the beginning of the 1990s (2021, 2014, 2010 & 1993). The 2026 Second Round is Montreal’s first playoff series to feature six or more players with five or more points since the 2002 Conference Quarterfinals (last with more: 9 in 1991 DSF).

* Captain Nick Suzuki (3-3—6 in 5 GP) is one of those offensive contributors that have helped the Canadiens score five or more goals in each of their three victories. Only six teams in the past 30 years have reached the mark in four or more games within a series: 2024 Avalanche (5 GP in R1), 2025 Panthers (4 GP in SCF, CF), 2022 Oilers (4 GP in R2), 2020 Stars (4 GP in R2), 2018 Penguins (4 GP in R1) and 2011 Lightning (4 GP in CF).

* Tage Thompson (4-7—11 in 11 GP) leads the Sabres in scoring during his first appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and will also skate in a potential elimination game for the first time; he is one of five players in franchise history to average 1.00 points per game or better in a single postseason (min. 10 GP). The most points by a Sabres player in a potential elimination game is four, accomplished six times (last, Derek Plante: 1-3—4 in Game 4 of 1997 CSF).

PLAYER TO WATCH: EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL – TAYLOR HALL

Taylor Hall (3-9—12 in 8 GP) is closing in on his second Conference Finals appearance in as many years (both w/ CAR) after failing to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs each of his first seven NHL campaigns. Hall leads the Hurricanes in scoring this postseason and the club’s offensive catalyst has tied the franchise’s most assists and points by a player through the first eight games of a playoff year.

* Hall sits six points behind the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs’ scoring leader, Mitch Marner (7-11—18 in 12 GP), but his 1.50 points per game sits tied with the Golden Knights forward for the highest among all skaters this postseason (min. 7 GP). In fact, Hall has found the score sheet in all but one contest this playoffs, factored on an NHL-best nine go-ahead goals (2-7—9) and has produced the highest points-per-game clip of his career (regular season or playoffs) – ahead of his 2017-18 Hart Memorial Trophy-winning campaign (1.22 P/GP w/ NJD).

PLAYER TO WATCH: WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL – MARTIN NECAS

Martin Necas (1-10—11 in 9 GP) has collected three assists through Colorado’s two series-clinching wins in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, including the primary helper on Brett Kulak’s game-winning goal in overtime against the Wild. Overall, his 14 postseason assists are the most among Avalanche skaters since joining the club in 2024-25 (2-14—16 in 16 GP) and enters the Conference Finals with an opportunity to join Peter Stastny (20), Nathan MacKinnon (18) and Marian Stastny (16) as the fourth player to register 15 or more helpers through their first 20 playoff games with the franchise.

* Necas found the score sheet in all three games against the Golden Knights during the 2025-26 regular season – highlighted by a 1-2—3 outing on Halloween – and enters the Western Conference Final against Vegas with multiple assists in each of his past two outings. He can join Mikko Rantanen (3 GP in 2022), Joe Sakic (3 GP in 1999) and Peter Stastny (3 GP in 1985) as the fourth player in franchise history with three consecutive multi-assist games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.