NHL Hockey 3d Briefing
×Last updated: March 18, 2026, 8:30 PM ET
NHL Playoff Races & Injury Updates
The Eastern Conference playoff picture remains intensely contested as the Penguins prepare to face espn.com the Carolina Hurricanes, a critical matchup that could see Pittsburgh secure a wild-card berth if they can overcome the Hurricanes. Adding significant weight to this clash is the confirmed return of Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, who rejoins the lineup espn.com after missing time due to a lower-body injury sustained during the recent Olympic tournament. Conversely, the Western Conference faces a major blow as Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl, who has amassed an impressive 97 points through 65 games, is likely sidelined espn.com for the remainder of the regular season following an injury suffered Sunday, severely impacting Edmonton's divisional positioning.
The quest for postseason positioning extends to the Pacific Division, where the San Jose Sharks are analyzing scenarios that could still yield a wild card spot or even the division title, according to current playoff projections espn.com released after Tuesday’s action. Meanwhile, fantasy managers are advised to assess weekly pickups, with recommendations focusing on players like Blake Coleman and Troy Terry espn.com in Monday’s essential guide to setting competitive lineups for the coming week. to the postseason, fans are already identifying veteran players chasing their first championship, with Brent Burns leading the list espn.com of "old guys without a Cup" candidates to root for during the 2026 playoffs.
League Business & Player Milestones
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman addressed the future of international play, confirming that the 2028 World Cup of Hockey will utilize Calgary, Edmonton, and Prague as host cities, though he stated that "time will tell" regarding the potential inclusion of Russia and its array of NHL talent for the 2028 event espn.com. On the ice, Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane achieved a personal landmark, scoring twice in a 5-2 victory over Calgary to move into sole possession of fourth place on the all-time goals list for NHL players born in the United States, as detailed by coverage of Kane's achievement espn.com. Separately, the Chicago Blackhawks moved to secure future assets by agreeing to a three-year entry-level contract with Sacha Boisvert, recognized as one of the organization's premier prospects, according to reports on the signing espn.com.
Injury Concerns & Olympic Aftermath
Several high-profile players faced recent injury setbacks, amplifying organizational concerns as the regular season winds down. Montreal Canadiens forward Kirby Dach exited Sunday night's game against the Anaheim Ducks following an upper-body injury sustained after a high hit from Ducks winger Jeffrey Viel, as documented in reports of Dach's exit espn.com. In a separate, non-game-related anecdote concerning international play, the Hockey Hall of Fame confirmed it will not be granting Jack Hughes the official game puck from his gold-medal-winning goal at the Milan Cortina Olympics, asserting that the puck is not legally his to own espn.com.