Now that the Montreal Canadiens have qualified for the Eastern Conference Finals, it is worth discussing how they managed to produce enough offense to overcome the Buffalo Sabres.

The lack of first-line production at 5v5 has been well-advertised, and while it’s fair to suggest Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slafkowski and Cole Caufield need to score with greater frequency, similar to their regular-season dominance, we also have to acknowledge that the Sabers have focused on shutting them down.

By doing so, they devoted most of their energy and game planning to only three Canadiens forwards, opening the door for the rest of the lineup to capitalize on their opportunities.

And he stepped up and did a great job.

Newfoundlander Alex Newhook scored six goals in the series, five of which came at even strength. Close behind is Kirby Dach, who scored twice at 5v5.

Alex Newhook!!!!

The Montreal Canadiens are going to the Conference Finals!!!! #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/USlIPc5p3Z

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 19 May 2026

Apart from those two, no other player scored more than one goal at 5v5, but nine different players managed to find the back of the net at least once.

Of course, this is ignoring powerplay production, but the point is that the Sabers were so busy trying to slow down Montreal’s best players, the floodgates were opened on the rest of the lineup.

The underlying numbers paint an accurate picture. Players like Jake Evans, Ivan Demidov, Zachary Bolduc and Philippe Danault played a solid brand of hockey, resulting in the Canadiens controlling more shots while they were on the ice.

Final Series Impact card for the Montreal Canadiens after defeating the Sabers 4-3 pic.twitter.com/7upuENuSmj

– hockeystatcards (@hockeystatcards) 19 May 2026

Montreal Canadiens Brass Tacks

The mere fact that the Habs have managed to win two playoff series just a few years after beginning their rebuild is quite encouraging.

Franchises around the NHL are keeping an eye on the Canadiens, trying to figure out if they can somehow emulate his quick rise through the ranks.

But it takes a special kind of team to constantly find new ways to win.

You need a great leader.

A confident goaltender.

A friendly coach.

And a solid roster.

But most importantly, you need a group of players who are willing to put everything on the line while also being able to adapt to the endless factors involved in professional sports.

Every Canadiens player in the lineup is rowing in the same direction, which has been the driving force behind their exciting playoff run.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick, unless otherwise noted.

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

On Thursday, the Las Vegas Raiders unveiled their 2026 schedule. All 32 NFL teams announced their 17-game slate simultaneously, which was a media spectacle.

The Raiders will travel 21,099 miles in 2026, the 12th-most in the league. Based on opponents’ 2025 record, they also have the seventh-highest strength of schedule at .529.

For the first time since 2010, the Raiders will not appear in a single primetime game, which is not surprising considering their record over the past several years. Except for late-season flex, Fernando Mendoza and the Silver and Black will not receive any national spotlight on Monday, Thursday, Saturday or Sunday nights. Las Vegas is the only NFL team not to play an international game this decade, a streak that now stretches to seven seasons. The Raiders last played internationally in London in 2019.

Let’s break the slate.

Week 1: Las Vegas Raiders open season against Miami

The Raiders opened at Allegiant Stadium, marking the first time the building has hosted a weekend game since 2021. Every Raiders game through 2026 is scheduled for a Sunday. This is likely the film debut of Kirk Cousins ​​or Fernando Mendoza, both Miami natives. Las Vegas last hosted the Dolphins in 2021, winning 31-28.

RELATED: Las Vegas Raiders secondary overhaul: How Jon Spytek’s 4 draft picks fit Clint Kubiak’s defense

Week 2: at Los Angeles Chargers

Las Vegas faces its first AFC West opponent in Week 2 when it travels to SoFi Stadium to face the Los Angeles Chargers. It was last year’s meeting against the Chargers that Brock Bowers recorded a one-handed touchdown grab on his shoelaces. In the first 17 weeks, the Raiders are expected to play 11 games on CBS and six games on Fox.

Week 3: at New Orleans

The road trip continues in New Orleans as the Raiders visit the Saints. This is the first of three consecutive games away from Allegiant Stadium and the third consecutive meeting between the teams at Caesars Superdome. The series is split between those games. The Saints won on Halloween Eve in 2022. Two years later, the Raiders won the game as Aidan O’Connell threw for 242 yards and two touchdowns.

Also Read: Las Vegas Raiders Draft Recap: Getting to know the picks including Fernando Mendoza

Week 4: vs. Kansas City

October begins with the Kansas City Chiefs at home inside Allegiant Stadium. The Chiefs could work with Patrick Mahomes or backup Justin Fields depending on Mahomes’ recovery from a torn ACL. The injury occurred a few weeks before the Raiders won the 2025 season finale on Daniel Carlson’s 60-yard walk-off field goal.

RELATED: ‘Every ball is a dart’: Pat McAfee and Kirk Herbstreit make brilliant Fernando Mendoza comparisons

Week 5: at New England

The Raiders travel to Gillette Stadium to face the defending AFC champion New England Patriots. Las Vegas defeated New England in Week 1 last year, with then-rookie Ashton Jeanty scoring a touchdown in his NFL debut. A win in Foxborough would even the all-time series at 18-18-1. It is the first of three games scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. PT. The rest come in the 1 pm PT window.

Week 6: vs. Buffalo

The Raiders will host their second consecutive AFC East opponent on October 18, looking for their first win over Buffalo since the franchise moved to Las Vegas. The Silver and Black lost to the Bills in 2020 and 2023. Cousins ​​last faced Buffalo in 2022, leading Minnesota to a 33-30 overtime win capped by a one-handed fourth-and-18 grab from Justin Jefferson.

Also Read: Where is Terron Johnson? The Raiders’ best offseason trade has quietly disappeared

Week 7: vs. Los Angeles Rams

The Raiders also clinched the NFC West this season, and the Los Angeles Rams came to Las Vegas in first. This is the first time that the franchise has hosted Los Angeles since relocating in 2020. The Raiders have lost by a combined six points in the last two meetings at SoFi Stadium (2022, 2024). This match is also Davante Adams’ first game against his former team after the trade.

Week 8: at New York Jets

Las Vegas concludes its AFC East slate against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. The Raiders have won four of the last five meetings, including the last two meetings in 2020 and 2023. The 2023 game at Allegiant Stadium was highlighted by O’Connell’s 7-yard touchdown catch of Michael Mayer. In 2020, Darren Waller posted 13 receptions for 200 yards and two touchdowns. Derek Carr capped it off with a 46-yard touchdown pass to Henry Ruggs III with five seconds remaining.

Week 9: at San Francisco

The famous Bay Area rivalry has returned. The Raiders made their first trip to Levi’s Stadium since 2018, also drawing the 49ers in their third preseason game. The Raiders last hosted San Francisco in 2023, when Davante Adams passed for 150 yards and two touchdowns, including a 60-yard score.

Week 10: vs. Seattle

Head coach Clint Kubiak is facing his former team for the first time since winning the Super Bowl in Seattle. Kubiak brought offensive coordinator Andrew Janko and offensive line coach Rick Dennison with him to Las Vegas. The Seahawks will play in Las Vegas for the first time on Nov. 15. The game is capped with the Raiders facing three NFC West teams in four weeks. The last meeting was in 2022, when Josh Jacobs had an 86-yard walk-off touchdown run.

Also read: ‘No excuses’: Clint Kubiak issues clear warning to Raiders coaches and front office

Week 11: at Denver

The annual trip to Mile High takes place the week before Thanksgiving. Denver reached last season’s AFC Championship Game with former Raider Jarrett Stidham under center. The tour is limited to three consecutive weeks on CBS.

Week 12: at Cleveland

Weather could become a factor in back-to-back road games before the bye. The matchup will reveal a lot about where the offense stands. The Browns fielded one of the NFL’s top defenses last year. Cleveland is led by Myles Garrett and Carson Schwesinger, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year and Defensive Rookie of the Year, respectively. Garrett set the single-season sack record with 23 in 2025.

ALSO READ: Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver depth chart 2026: No clear No. 1 option heading into training camp

Week 13: Bye

Las Vegas got its long-awaited bye a week before the playoff race. That would set the Giants up for a potential playoff run, whether Mendoza or Cousins ​​is under center.

RELATED: Las Vegas Raiders tipped to pursue All-Pro pass-catcher

Week 14: vs. Los Angeles Chargers

Las Vegas returns from the bye with three straight home games, starting with the Chargers. It is the first of three December games. The Raiders play each of their three AFC West opponents in the final five weeks of the regular season.

Week 15: vs. Denver

For the second time in four weeks, the Raiders and Broncos completed the season series, this time at Allegiant Stadium. This will either be in the middle of a stretch run or bring valuable minutes to Mendoza. Las Vegas looks for its first home win over the Broncos since Week 18 of the 2023 season. That win made it eight consecutive wins over Denver, a streak that began when the team moved to Las Vegas.

RELATED: Why analysts already consider the Raiders out of the 2026 playoffs

Week 16: vs. Tennessee

The home finale comes a few days after Christmas. The Raiders have won four of the last six meetings with Tennessee, including last year, when Maxx Crosby sacked 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward twice in a 20-10 win at Allegiant Stadium. Week 16 is also the third Raiders home game in the last four meetings since 2019.

Week 17: at Arizona

The Raiders head down Highway 93 to Phoenix to face the Cardinals for the first time since 2022. It is their first trip to Glendale since 2018, a game Carlson won on a 35-yard field goal as time expired during his rookie season. Arizona’s backfield also includes Jeremiah Love, who was selected two spots after Mendoza last month.

Week 18: at Kansas City

The season ends at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, marking the third time since 2022 that the Raiders and Chiefs have finished the regular season against each other. A lot could be on the line. The Raiders can clinch a playoff seed and rest their starters. They may fight for position. Or Mendoza could be playing valuable minutes in the final game of his rookie season.

Braven Honda graduated from San Diego State with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism in May 2021. During his time at SDSU, … More about Braven Honda

The New Jersey Devils’ ownership was unwilling to compromise for the status quo. That’s why they parted ways with Tom Fitzgerald and brought in Sunny Mehta.

Now, this doesn’t mean that they brought Mehta in with the idea that he would replace Nico Hischier. However, he gave Mehta complete autonomy to do business as he wished.

So if Mehta really wants to differentiate himself from the status quo of the previous regime, he will have to find a way to accomplish what he could not. We will know more about it in the link below.

Elsewhere, a Blueshirts trade target, Philly and Matvey Michkov, and more.

Devil’s Trade Rumors and News

New Jersey Hockey Now: So then, Mehta was brought in to separate. What better way to prove this than with a daring Quinn Hughes trade. Here’s how he might unite the Hughes Triangular force in New Jersey.

📺 devil’s rink report: It has been reported that Auston Matthews’ future in Toronto is uncertain. Well, some people have drawn attention to New Jersey in a potential franchise changing trade. In the latest video on Devils Rink Report, I break down the deal that’s received a lot of backlash online and weigh in on whether it makes sense.

Last week, we went live with immediate reaction after the draft lottery. The full episode can be found here 👇🏼

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Athletic ($): The Vegas Golden Knights say they got their swag back under John Tortorella on the way to eliminating the Anaheim Ducks and advancing to the Western Conference Finals.

Forever Blueshirts: This would also be a name to watch for the Devils if the Vegas Golden Knights can’t shut him down. Pavel Dorofeyev has proven to be a legitimate NHL sniper. Can the New York Rangers free him?

pittsburgh hockey now: Wayne Gretzky may be considered the best of all time in terms of professional hockey players. However, he trails only two Pittsburgh Penguins in CHL history.

Florida hockey now: Chris Knoblauch found out the hard way that being an NHL head coach isn’t a very secure job when the Edmonton Oilers fired him yesterday before the start of his three-year extension.

Philly hockey now: Forget the infamy of Matvei Michkov that Philadelphia Flyers fans believed was reality. GM Daniel Briere supported the young Russian by explaining the process and what would happen next.

Montreal hockey now: We’re heading into Game 6 after the Montreal Canadiens crushed the Buffalo Sabers last night.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

Fernando Mendoza has already made a serious name for himself ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. The Indiana Hoosiers QB has stepped into leadership roles both on and off the field. Climbing up draft boards after having what was called one of the best single seasons by a Big Ten quarterback.

After transferring from Cal, the Miami native helped transform Indiana from a struggling program into a serious contender. That run ended with a perfect 16–0 record and the school’s first national championship. His statistics supported it, but what stood out was his composure in the big moments. This led to his Heisman win, where he received 84.6% of the votes.

Now, as he prepares for the draft, let’s take a deeper look at what made Fernando Mendoza who he is today.

What high school did Fernando Mendoza go to?

Mendoza went to Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, where, as quarterback on the football team, he completed 133 of his 203 pass attempts for 1,396 yards and 16 touchdowns with four interceptions, while also adding 137 yards and a touchdown on the ground in two seasons. He was just as good in the classroom, receiving a 4.7 GPA from school.

What college did Fernando Mendoza go to?

Mendoza graduated from Indiana University’s Haas School of Business; Before this, he attended the University of California.

What is Fernando Mendoza College GPA?

Mendoza has a 3.4 GPA in college after graduating from Indiana University.

What degree does Fernando Mendoza have?

Mendoza holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley. According to his LinkedIn, he also has a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Indiana University Bloomington.

Why did Fernando Mendoza transfer from Cal to Indiana?

When discussing his transfer, Mendoza said he saw Indiana as the best place for development, choosing the program instead of “blue bloods” like Georgia and Missouri because Cignetti promised to turn him into “the best Fernando Mendoza.” Mendoza stated that the primary reason for his departure was to find a system that could turn him into a “pro-ready quarterback”.

Another reason Mendoza decided to go to Bloomington was his younger brother, Alberto, who was already a redshirt freshman quarterback at Indiana.

How much did Fernando Mendoza make with zero money?

According to NFL sources, Mendoza is worth $2.6 million, which ranks him in the top five nationally among college football players.

Fernando Mendoza’s college statistics

Mendoza accumulated 8,267 passing yards and 71 TDs at California and Indiana. At Cal, during his 2 seasons, he has racked up 4,712 yards and 30 TDs. And at Indiana (2025): 3,535 yards, 41 TDs.

Will the Las Vegas Raiders draft Fernando Mendoza No. 1 overall?

According to multiple reports, the draft is interested in drafting Mendoza as the No. 1 pick.

Did the Carolina Hurricane leave a lucky horseshoe in Raleigh?

The 5-4 win over the Vancouver Canucks came after a 2-1 loss to the Seattle Kraken, and it certainly wasn’t an easy deal, no matter how much distance in the standings one would try to indicate.

Andrei Svechnikov spent half the game with a plug in the nose after taking a puck in the face, while two goals came off the stick of the Hurricanes’ own defenseman, another due to a rare five-on-three penalty kill, and another after Jakob Slavin was caught without his stick.

However, the Hurricanes still had some luck left.

Although they trailed 2–1 at the end of the first period, they took the lead for the rest of the game as the second frame opened.

Sebastian Aho scored the fourth goal of the game for Carolina and, with it, logged his eighth 60-point season, becoming the fourth Finnish player in NHL history to accomplish this feat.

Nikolaj Ehlers, meanwhile, was up for grabs as he not only scored the game-winning goal, but also notched the seventh NHL hat trick of his career.

Nonetheless, despite some issues in their play, the Hurricanes kept the pressure on the Canucks throughout the game, creating 12 high-danger scoring chances while only allowing three.

A reunion a year in the making

This time last year, Logan Stankoven was a member of the Dallas Stars, preparing for a game in his home province of British Columbia as they had to battle the Canucks on an upcoming road trip. Meanwhile, around 500 family members and friends had tickets to support him from the stands.

Of course, that reunion did not come to fruition, as Stankoven was traded to the Hurricanes at the NHL trade deadline. Instead, his battalion watched him face the Winnipeg Jets from a sports bar across the street from Rogers Arena in Vancouver.

However, it was a different story on Wednesday. The Canucks’ own arena erupted into loud chants of ‘Let’s Go Hurricanes’ as an estimated 150 people came to cheer on Stankoven.

It may have taken them a while to gel, but they’ve certainly got a great show.

Rachel Barkley is a beat writer covering the Carolina Hurricanes for Carolina Hockey Now on SportsNote. Painting Stories…More About Rachel Barclay

NASCAR Cup Series driver Shane Van Gisbergen’s streak of five consecutive road course wins ended last Sunday at Circuit of the Americas, where he finished second to Tyler Reddick. Viewed by some as the best road-course driver in NASCAR history, he may soon get a challenger.

In the latest episode of “Actions Detrimental” coming from COTA, Denny Hamlin shared his belief that Van Gisbergen’s “road course supremacy” will soon be shared by 19-year-old Cup Series driver Connor Zylisch.

RELATED: Denny Hamlin Praises Another Driver for Great Road Course Improvement

“I think SVG is going to keep company in the road-course dominance bracket. It appears Zylisch is really, really there… I mean he’s already got to pass the race craft and build speed… As the weekend went on, he got better and faster. I think we’re going to be talking about him, certainly for a handful of races here where we’re racing left and right. Will turn.”

Denny Hamlin on Conor Zylisch’s ability to challenge street driving, Shane van Gisbergen

Heading into the NASCAR schedule at Phoenix this weekend, Zylisch has the fifth-fewest points (37) among full-time drivers in the Cup Series. That doesn’t tell the whole story about how well the rookie has been driving the No. 88 car this season for Trackhouse Racing.

While Zylisch finished 33rd in the Daytona 500, he was actually running third on Lap 85 when the car spun slightly and was then involved in a major wreck. The following week at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Zylisch was sixth on the restart on Lap 93 and eighth on Lap 135 before falling back to 30th after getting stuck behind some debris.

RELATED: NASCAR Power Rankings after COTA, see where SVG and Denny Hamlin land

However, the real standout performance came last week at COTA. The No. 88 car struggled in practice and qualifying, resulting in the team starting 25th on Sunday. To his credit, Zilisch made his way into the top 10 at the start of Stage 2. Unfortunately for Trackhouse, he spun in Turn 1 at the start of Stage 2 after being dumped by Daniel Suarez while passing the field No. 88 as it sat sideways.

Remarkably, Zylisch once again moved through the field with one of the fastest cars of the day. Unfortunately, misfortune struck him again in the final stages. In the same Turn 1 with 17 laps to go, Hamlin caused Zillisch’s second spinout when the No. 11 spun into the back of William Byron and effectively pushed the No. 24 into the other cars, resulting in Zillisch’s car spinning.

RELATED: Denny Hamlin predicts how Tyler Reddick finishes in the regular season

Zillisch suddenly found himself back in 32nd place with only 16 laps remaining. He was looking at the possibility of finishing outside the top 30 for the third consecutive race. Instead, he showed his mastercraft on the road courses by maneuvering through the field and moving up to 24th with 10 laps to go, moving up to 17th on the final lap and ultimately finishing the day in 14th.

By the end of the day, Zilisch had made 56 passes throughout the race and finished the day with a more respectable 23 points. He was one of the most impressive drivers so far at COTA on Sunday, showing that he was the only driver at any level last season who could consistently keep pace with SVG on road courses.

The 19-year-old is showcasing his magical skills on the roadways, which can only be matched by someone who is 36 years old and has much more driving experience. Given the year-to-year improvement SVG has shown on ovals since the start of last season, Zylisch’s career trajectory could make him one of the best drivers in NASCAR in just a few years. Until then, he’ll battle SVG to become the best road-course driver in NASCAR this season and beyond.

READ MORE: NASCAR Odds 4 Picks This Week Including Phoenix, Denny Hamlin

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

As most of the spotlight focuses on 23XI Racing driver Tyler Reddick becoming the first driver in NASCAR history to win the first three Cup Series races of the season, teammate Bubba Wallace is off to the best start of his career. This is, in part, thanks to their improvements on road routes.

Coming off the Circuit of the Americas, where Wallace finished 11th and was in the top 10 in points earned, driver and 23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin recently praised Wallace for his road-course improvements on the latest episode of Action Detrimental.

RELATED: NASCAR Power Rankings after COTA, see where Bubba Wallace and Denny Hamlin landed

“He should be very proud of his development on the road course. He downplays it quite a bit, you know, ‘I struggle.’ The 10 has a solid, back half now on the road to get the pace and his craft going.

Denny Hamlin on Bubba Wallace’s improvements at road courses

This is coming from the Duramax Texas Grand Prix, where Wallace scored a career-best finish at COTA with an 11th-place result after starting the day 24th. Most impressively, this happened when the No. 23 team played for points in Stage 2 (5 points) and then had to start the final stage after pitting near the back of the field.

Wallace was 24th at one point in the final stages before a restart following a caution with 17 laps remaining. He moved up to 16th with 15 laps to go, 12th with 11 laps to go, and in the final laps he passed William Byron to move up to 11th, just behind Hamlin.

RELATED: Denny Hamlin predicts how Tyler Reddick finishes in the regular season

He has now finished top 15 or better in his last three races on the road course, including an eighth-place finish at Watkins Glen last August. Over the past two years, spanning from the COTA race on March 24, 2024, to March 1, 2026, Wallace’s average finishing position is 16.16.

Keep in mind this also includes the Chicago Street Race last summer where he was 6th with 6 laps to go before getting into it with Alex Bowman and eventually spinning out. Ultimately he finished 28th.

Wallace has become the caliber of driver that Hamlin envisioned when he brought him to 23XI Racing. It shows this season, with Wallace’s improvement on road courses and the fact that he is currently second in points with the third-highest average finishing position (9.7) and second-most laps led (86) in the Cup Series. Redick and Wallace have become 23XI’s top drivers, and the team’s future could be even brighter next season, with top prospect Corey Heim expected to join the team full-time as a replacement for Riley Herbst.

READ MORE: 23XI Racing driver Riley Herbst an option for another Cup team in 2027

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson