NHL Hockey 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: March 13, 2026, 2:51 AM ET
NHL Hockey
Injury& Discipline
The NHL's injury report and disciplinary actions dominated Thursday, with two significant developments. Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews suffered a knee-on-knee collision during Thursday night's loss to Anaheim, forcing his exit after 14 minutes. The hit by Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas, widely criticized as "dirty play," has sparked debate about player safety protocols. Simultaneously, Colorado Avalanche superstar Nathan Mac Kinnon received a rescinded game misconduct for a hit on Edmonton Oilers winger Connor McDavid on Tuesday. The NHL's reversal, confirmed by Mac Kinnon to The Denver Post, highlights the league's ongoing review process for on-ice conduct and its impact on star players.
Ownership & Draft Drama
The Carolina Hurricanes announced a significant ownership shift Thursday, with Tom Dundon selling a minority stake to three new investors. The move, detailed in a team statement, expands Dundon's control beyond his existing majority stake and signals a strategic repositioning for the franchise. Meanwhile, the Ottawa Senators avoided a major draft penalty when the NHL declined to force a forfeit of their 2026 first-round pick. The decision came after the league cleared the Senators of responsibility for the canceled 2022 trade involving Vegas and Anaheim that involved Evgenii Dadonov, averting a potential $48 million loss in future draft capital.
Women's Hockey & Playoff Preview
The Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) secured a major broadcast boost Thursday, announcing a national TV deal for its Detroit game. The agreement, details of which were not disclosed, will bring the league's top-tier women's hockey action to a U.S. television audience for the first time, marking a significant step in growing the sport's visibility. On the men's side, the Stanley Cup playoff picture remains fluid, with the Dallas Stars-Oilers series emerging as a potential conference finals preview according to updated projections. Analysts note the matchup's potential to shape the Western Conference's playoff landscape, though the exact seeding remains uncertain.
Fantasy Focus
For fantasy hockey enthusiasts, the playoffs are now in full swing. Experts emphasize the critical need for strategic lineup adjustments and targeted waiver wire pickups to maximize chances of winning leagues, as traditional season-long strategies often falter in the high-stakes playoff environment.