NHL Hockey 3h Briefing

Last updated: April 6, 2026, 8:30 AM ET

NHL Playoff Picture & Prospects

The race for the Atlantic Division's top seed remains unsettled as both the Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres have clinched playoff berths, creating late-season tension over seeding advantage. Meanwhile, attention turns to historical precedents for the sport's elite, where only eight players have managed to capture Olympic gold and the Stanley Cup in the same calendar year, setting the benchmark for current contenders pursuing the "double championship."