NHL Hockey 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: March 16, 2026, 7:30 AM ET
NHL Injury & Roster Moves
The Montreal Canadiens suffered an injury setback late Sunday when forward Kirby Dach was forced from the game against the Anaheim Ducks following an upper-body issue stemming from a high hit delivered by Jeffrey Viel, raising immediate concerns over Dach's status In organizational news, the Washington Capitals secured the signing of highly touted defenseman Cole Hutson to a three-year contract after his sophomore campaign at Boston University concluded in the Hockey East tournament this past Saturday.
Playoff Picture & Projections
As the regular season winds down, attention remains focused on the tight Western Conference race, where projection models are currently assessing the Ducks' slim chances of capturing the Pacific Division title. These evolving playoff forecasts, along with the latest lottery standings derived from Saturday's busy slate of games, dictate the immediate strategic focus for teams making their final push toward securing postseason berths.