NHL Hockey 3d Briefing
×Last updated: March 20, 2026, 5:30 AM ET
NHL Injury Woes & Roster Moves
The Eastern Conference playoff picture took a significant hit this week as two major stars faced lengthy layoffs, compounding organizational shifts for the Islanders. Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews espn.com required successful MCL surgery on Thursday, sidelining the superstar for an anticipated 12 weeks, a massive blow just as the regular season winds down. Meanwhile, the Oilers' Leon Draisaitl espn.com, who has amassed 97 points in 65 games, is likely out for the remainder of the regular schedule after suffering a lower-body injury Sunday, putting Edmonton's late-season positioning in jeopardy. In personnel news, the New York Islanders espn.com formally announced plans to relocate their American Hockey League affiliate from Bridgeport, Connecticut, to Hamilton, Ontario, next season, even as the club secured a major asset for the future, signing top 2024 draft prospect Cole Eiserman, the USNTDP's all-time leading goal scorer, to a three-year entry-level deal Eiserman signs espn.com.
Playoff Races & Return Performances
With the postseason rapidly approaching, several teams battled for seeding while others welcomed back key veterans, though not all returns resulted in immediate victories. Despite returning to the ice after missing 11 games, Penguins star Sidney Crosby espn.com managed a goal and an assist, yet Pittsburgh ultimately fell in overtime to the Hurricanes, who secured the win via Sean Walker's goal with only 28.3 seconds remaining. This result keeps the question open regarding whether the Penguins can overtake Carolina in the standings Pittsburgh chases Hurricanes espn.com. Elsewhere, Capitals rookie Cole Hutson admitted feeling nervous before his debut but settled in quickly, recording 16:22 of ice time and netting his first career goal during Wednesday's 4-1 victory over the Senators Hutson scores in debut espn.com. The league also saw continued monitoring of potential first-round matchups, with speculation that the Mammoth-Golden Knights espn.com series could serve as a preview for the NHL's opening round in mid-April.
League Administration & History
On administrative matters away from the ice, the Hockey Hall of Fame espn.com issued a definitive statement regarding Jack Hughes, confirming that the puck from his gold-medal-winning Olympic goal at the Milan Cortina Games will not be awarded to the player, asserting it remains the property of the Hall. Simultaneously, teams like the San Jose Sharks espn.com remain in the hunt, with playoff projections showing that both a wild card berth and a Pacific Division title are still mathematically possible as the final weeks unfold, influencing late-season strategy across the board.