NHL Hockey 3d Briefing
×Last updated: March 18, 2026, 2:30 PM ET
NHL Playoff Races & Injury Updates
The race for the Eastern Conference wild card intensified as the Penguins star Sidney Crosby espn.com prepared for his return against the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday espn.com, following an absence due to a lower-body injury sustained during the Olympics. Meanwhile, Western Conference contenders faced significant setbacks, with Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl expected to miss the remainder espn.com of the regular season after sustaining his own lower-body injury Sunday, despite having already amassed 97 points in 65 games. Further compounding injury woes, Montreal Canadiens forward Kirby Dach exited Sunday night's game espn.com against the Ducks following an upper-body injury resulting from a high hit delivered by Anaheim's Jeffrey Viel.
Player Milestones & Off-Ice News
Detroit Red Wings winger Patrick Kane achieved a solo milestone espn.com by scoring twice in a 5-2 victory over Calgary, vaulting him into fourth place all-time for goals scored by a U.S.-born NHL player. In organizational news, the Chicago Blackhawks secured a three-year entry-level contract espn.com with Sacha Boisvert, regarded as one of their premier prospects, while the Washington Capitals added depth by inking defenseman Cole Hutson to a three-year deal espn.com immediately following the conclusion of his sophomore season at Boston University. Separately, U.S. forward Jack Hughes publicly requested the return espn.com of the puck from his gold-medal-winning overtime goal, currently on display at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.
League Operations & Future Tournaments
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman addressed the status espn.com of Russian participation in the 2028 World Cup of Hockey, stating that "time will tell" if players from Russia will be extended invitations to the tournament. The league confirmed that the 2028 World Cup will utilize three host cities, with Calgary and Edmonton joining Prague espn.com as venues next February. As teams jockey for postseason positioning—with projections showing the San Jose Sharks still mathematically capable of securing a wild card or a Pacific Division berth despite ongoing uncertainty espn.com—fans are already identifying veterans without a championship ring, such as Brent Burns, as key candidates espn.com to root for in the upcoming Stanley Cup playoffs. For fantasy managers, Monday's advisory provided specific guidance on weekly additions, recommending pickups like Blake Coleman and Troy Terry espn.com based on favorable matchups.