NHL Hockey 24-Hour Briefing

Last updated: March 13, 2026, 4:58 AM ET

Injury Updates & Player Status

Vegas captain Mark Stone returned from a five-game absence due to an upper-body injury, immediately impacting the Knights' offensive flow in a 6-2 victory over Pittsburgh. In a separate incident, Toronto's Auston Matthews suffered a knee injury following a knee-on-knee hit from Anaheim defenseman Radko Gudas, forcing him from the game and raising concerns about his availability for the Maple Leafs' upcoming schedule.

League Rulings & Draft Implications

The NHL rescinded a game misconduct penalty assessed to Colorado Avalanche star Nathan Mac Kinnon from a recent game against Edmonton, a decision communicated directly to the player. This ruling follows a separate league determination that the Ottawa Senators will not forfeit their 2026 first-round draft pick for their involvement in the canceled 2022 Evgenii Dadonov trade with Vegas and Anaheim, preserving a key future asset for the franchise.

Team Business & League Expansion

Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon sold a minority stake to three new investors, a move aimed at expanding the team's ownership base. Meanwhile, the nascent Professional Women's Hockey League secured a national television audience in the United States, a significant broadcast milestone for the new league.

Playoff Picture & Fantasy Strategy

Updated Stanley Cup playoff projections highlight the potential for a Western Conference finals showdown between Dallas and Edmonton, while the race for the draft lottery continues to shift. For fantasy hockey managers, the upcoming playoff weeks require strategic lineup adjustments, with the guide emphasizing the importance of targeting players on teams with the most favorable schedules and series outcomes.