NHL Hockey 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: March 14, 2026, 5:36 PM ET
NHL Playoff Picture
The NHL's Saturday slate features 14 games including a marquee Bruins-Capitals showdown that could shake up the Eastern Conference standings, while the league's playoff projections show Boston maintaining a narrow lead over Washington for home-ice advantage in a potential first-round matchup. The draft lottery standings remain fluid with Detroit holding the top position but Montreal and Arizona closing the gap after key victories Friday night.
Player Discipline
Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas received a five-game suspension from the NHL Department of Player Safety for a knee-on-knee hit that ended Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews' season, marking the second major suspension this week following the league's crackdown on dangerous plays below the knee. The suspension will cost Gudas approximately $147,000 in lost salary and eliminates any chance of him facing Matthews when the Leafs host Anaheim on March 28.