NHL Hockey 3d Briefing
×Last updated: March 14, 2026, 1:43 PM ET
NHL Playoff Picture Heats Up
The NHL's 14-game Saturday slate features a marquee matchup between the Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals, as playoff positioning intensifies across both conferences espn.com. The Bruins-Capitals game could have significant implications for Eastern Conference seeding, with both teams jockeying for home-ice advantage in the first round. Meanwhile, the Edmonton Oilers' postseason path continues to take shape, with their upcoming schedule against conference contenders potentially determining their playoff positioning espn.com.
Discipline and Controversy
Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas received a five-game suspension from the NHL Department of Player Safety for a knee-on-knee hit that ended Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews' season espn.com. The suspension marks one of the more severe penalties this season, coming as the league cracks down on dangerous hits during the stretch run. In a separate incident, the NHL rescinded a game misconduct penalty against Colorado Avalanche star Nathan Mac Kinnon following his altercation with Edmonton Oilers players espn.com.
Transactions and Extensions
The Utah Mammoth locked up forward Nick Schmaltz with an eight-year, $64 million contract extension, keeping the dynamic scorer off the free agent market this summer espn.com. Schmaltz's deal represents one of the more significant investments in a player still in his prime years. On a smaller scale, the San Jose Sharks signed forward Ty Dellandrea to a two-year, $3.25 million extension espn.com, adding depth to their forward group as they prepare for next season.
International Expansion
The Chicago Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators will play two games in Germany next season as part of the NHL's Global Series espn.com. The games mark another step in the league's international growth strategy, following successful ventures in Sweden, Finland, and the Czech Republic. The NHL continues to explore markets beyond North America as it seeks to expand its global footprint.
Team Ownership Changes
Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon has sold a portion of the team to three new minority stakeholders, the organization announced Thursday espn.com. The move comes as NHL teams increasingly attract investment from diverse ownership groups. Meanwhile, the Ottawa Senators avoided losing their 2026 first-round draft pick, as the NHL decided against penalizing the team for their role in a canceled 2022 trade involving winger Evgenii Dadonov espn.com.
On-Ice Action
The Vegas Golden Knights received a significant boost with the return of captain Mark Stone from an upper-body injury, as he helped lead the team to a 6-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins espn.com. Stone's presence strengthens Vegas's Stanley Cup aspirations as the regular season winds down. The Knights' success comes amid growing speculation about a potential Stars-Oilers matchup serving as a conference finals preview espn.com.
Women's Hockey Developments
The Professional Women's Hockey League announced that a Detroit game will be broadcast to a national television audience in the United States espn.com, marking continued growth for the women's game. Additionally, the PWHL's Ottawa Charge is exploring a partnership with the NHL's Senators to remain in the city as their current home undergoes renovations espn.com. These moves signal increasing investment and visibility for professional women's hockey.