NHL Hockey 3d Briefing
×Last updated: March 20, 2026, 1:30 AM ET
NHL Player Health & Roster Moves
The Maple Leafs suffered a major blow espn.com as captain Auston Matthews underwent successful MCL surgery Thursday, sidelining the star forward for an expected recovery period of 12 weeks as the team pushes for playoff positioning. Adding to the injury woes in the West, Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl, who has already amassed 97 points in 65 games, is likely out for the remainder of the regular season espn.com due to a lower-body injury sustained Sunday. In more positive personnel news, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby marked his return to action espn.com after missing 11 games by registering a goal and an assist, though the Hurricanes ultimately secured a victory in overtime when Sean Walker scored with just 28.3 seconds remaining.
Playoff Picture & Prospect Development
As the regular season nears its conclusion, playoff races remain tight, with the Penguins seeking to overtake the Hurricanes espn.com in the standings following Wednesday's contest, while projections also show the San Jose Sharks maintaining possibilities for either a wild card berth or a Pacific Division spot depending on final outcomes espn.com. Attention also turns to offseason planning, as the New York Islanders organization announced its intention to relocate its American Hockey League affiliate from Bridgeport, Connecticut, to Hamilton, Ontario, for the upcoming season espn.com. Furthermore, the Islanders secured a key asset when Cole Eiserman, the 20th overall selection in the 2024 draft and the all-time leading goal scorer for the U.S. National Team Development Program, signed his three-year entry-level contract espn.com.
Rookie Performances & League Notes
Wednesday evening saw Washington Capitals rookie Cole Hutson net his first NHL goal espn.com in the team's 4-1 victory over the Senators; the defenseman admitted feeling immense pressure in his debut but played 16:22 of solid ice time. On an administrative note, the Hockey Hall of Fame issued a statement clarifying that it would not be presenting Jack Hughes with the puck espn.com from his gold-medal-winning goal achieved at the Milan Cortina Olympics, asserting the item is not his to permanently own. Meanwhile, anticipation builds for potential postseason matchups, as the Colorado Avalanche face the Vegas Golden Knights espn.com on Thursday, leading analysts to speculate whether the current regular season clash could serve as an early preview for a first-round playoff series.