NHL Hockey 24 Hours

Last updated: March 27, 2026, 11:30 AM ET

Eastern Conference Playoff Race & Injuries

The race for the final Eastern Conference wild card spot grew tighter as the Detroit Red Wings find themselves running out of time to secure a postseason berth amidst mounting injury concerns for key rivals. The Washington Capitals extended their hopes following a decisive 7-4 victory over the Mammoth, propelled by Alex Ovechkin netting his 34th career hat trick. However, the injury bug bit several contenders Thursday night; Penguins captain Sidney Crosby departed their win against the Senators in the second period with an unspecified lower-body ailment, barely a week after returning from a previous issue. Further compounding defensive woes in the East, Ottawa defenseman Thomas Chabot was confirmed to be out for up to two months due to a broken arm suffered in the same contest.

Contender Health & Roster Setbacks

The injury wave continued to impact top teams as the Florida Panthers suffered a significant blow in their narrow 3-2 loss to the Wild, with forward Evan Rodrigues likely out for the remainder of the season after breaking a finger on his right hand. These significant roster losses are altering the immediate outlook for several clubs vying for playoff positioning, which also impacts future fantasy valuations, as managers assess which young talent like Celebrini or Schaefer offers the best five-year return. As the postseason looms, understanding each franchise's historical performance becomes relevant, with all teams possessing a definitive career playoff points leader heading into the final stretch.