NHL Hockey 24 Hours

Last updated: March 22, 2026, 9:30 PM ET

League Milestones & Player Updates

The hockey community mourned a devastating loss following the tragic passing of longtime NHL.com correspondent Jessi Pierce and her three children in a Minnesota house fire on Saturday. Amidst the sorrow, league action saw a major milestone achieved as Alex Ovechkin recorded his 1,000th career goal across the regular season and playoffs, though his Washington Capitals fell 3-2 in overtime to the league-leading Colorado Avalanche. Furthermore, the Chicago Blackhawks are preparing for the arrival of their top draft selection, as No. 3 overall pick Anton Frondell is slated to make his NHL debut this coming week.

Playoff Picture & Injury Concerns

As teams jockey for playoff positioning, Sunday's slate featured the top four clubs in the Metropolitan Division competing, with analysts updating playoff projections and draft lottery standings following a busy Saturday across the league. On the injury front for the Toronto Maple Leafs, goaltender Anthony Stolarz missed his scheduled start after suffering an injury to his throat during warmups when struck by a puck. Separately, the focus shifts temporarily to amateur ranks as the NCAA men's hockey tournament finalized its matchups, setting the complete 16-team bracket leading toward the Frozen Four.