NHL Hockey 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: March 16, 2026, 2:35 AM ET
NHL Injury & Roster Updates
The Canadiens suffered a blow during their Sunday night contest against the Anaheim Ducks, as forward Kirby Dach exited due to an upper-body injury sustained from a high check delivered by Jeffrey Viel, adding immediate uncertainty to Montreal's lineup outlook. Meanwhile, the Washington Capitals bolstered their prospect pool by signing defenseman Cole Hutson to a three-year entry-level contract immediately following the conclusion of his sophomore campaign at Boston University on Saturday.
Playoff Picture & Projections
While several teams contend for the final Eastern Conference spots, attention remains focused on the West where Anaheim's Pacific Division title chances are being closely monitored by analysts projecting the final playoff bracket and lottery standings following a highly active preceding Saturday slate of games.