NHL Hockey 24 Hours

Last updated: March 23, 2026, 7:30 AM ET

NHL Player Discipline & MilestonesThe league office handed down a** three-game suspension to Panthers forward A.J. Greer for forcefully shoving Calgary Flames forward Connor Zary into the boards from behind, generating discussion about player safety protocols ahead of the final push for playoff positioning. Separately, Alex Ovechkin achieved a significant career milestone, scoring his 1,000th combined regular season and playoff goal, though the Washington Capitals ultimately fell 3-2 to the league-leading Colorado Avalanche in overtime Sunday. Concerns over the Metro Division standings remain high, as the top four teams were all in action Sunday, influencing current playoff projections and draft lottery odds following Saturday's results.*

Organizational Developments & Collegiate Hockey

In personnel news, the Chicago Blackhawks are preparing for the NHL debut of Anton Frondell, the highly touted No. 3 overall selection from the 2025 draft, who is expected to join the lineup sometime this week as the team evaluates its youth core. Meanwhile, the broader hockey community suffered a devastating loss with the untimely passing of Jessi Pierce, who for a decade served as the dedicated NHL.com correspondent covering the Minnesota Wild; Pierce and her three children were tragically killed in a house fire in Minnesota on Saturday. Away from the professional ranks, the NCAA Frozen Four tournament structure has been finalized, with the complete schedule and detailed capsules released for all 16 competing teams heading into the amateur championship slate.