NHL Hockey 24 Hours

Last updated: March 18, 2026, 3:30 PM ET

NHL Playoff Races & Injury Updates

The Eastern Conference playoff picture tightened considerably following significant injury news and a looming divisional clash, as Penguins star Sidney Crosby prepares to re-enter the lineup against the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday after recovering from the lower-body injury that forced him out of the Olympics. This matchup bears massive weight for Pittsburgh as they attempt to overtake the Hurricanes in the standings, while Edmonton faces a potentially devastating blow as Leon Draisaitl is likely out for the remainder of the regular season; Draisaitl’s absence, sustained Sunday, leaves him stuck at 97 points through 65 games, jeopardizing the Oilers’ seeding hopes. Meanwhile, updates on the draft lottery standings arrived after a busy Tuesday schedule, further complicating offseason planning for non-contenders across the league.

Player Memorabilia & Olympic Context

In off-ice news, the Hockey Hall of Fame declined a request to furnish Jack Hughes with the actual puck from his gold-medal-winning goal scored at the Milan Cortina Olympics, asserting that the artifact is not his property to possess. This decision comes as the league continues to process results from the international tournament where several top NHL talents, including Crosby, sustained injuries during competition.