NHL Hockey 24 Hours

Last updated: March 27, 2026, 5:30 PM ET

Eastern Conference Race & Injury Woes

The race for the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot intensified as the Detroit Red Wings find themselves running out of time to climb back into contention, while key players across the conference suffered major setbacks. Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin recorded his 34th career hat trick in Washington's 7-4 victory over the Mammoth, showcasing elite offensive production despite the team's overall standing. Conversely, the Florida Panthers suffered a significant blow in their 3-2 defeat to the Wild when forward Evan Rodrigues sustained a broken finger on his right hand, likely sidelining him for the remainder of the season. Adding to playoff concerns, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby was forced to exit Thursday's game against the Senators in the second period due to a recurring lower-body injury, barely a week after returning from a similar ailment Crosby suffered at the O.

Historical Playoff Context

As the postseason picture solidifies, attention turns to historical team benchmarks, with franchise playoff points leaders revealed for every NHL club. This compilation offers a look at which active or former stars have accumulated the most postseason production for their respective organizations heading into the final stretch of the regular season.