NHL Hockey 24 Hours

Last updated: April 3, 2026, 2:30 PM ET

NHL Playoff Picture & Injury Updates

As the regular season winds down with fewer than 10 games remaining for all clubs, the playoff races intensify with several key storylines developing across the league. The Minnesota Wild secured their postseason berth following a victory over the Canucks, marking their first trip to the playoffs since 2015 and giving them another shot at advancing deep into the tournament. Conversely, the Philadelphia Flyers face a narrow path requiring a win in their Friday contest coupled with favorable results elsewhere to maintain their slim postseason hopes, according to updated projections following Thursday’s 14-game slate. Adding to personnel concerns, Blue Jackets defenseman Damon Severson will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing necessary shoulder surgery this past Thursday.

Western Conference Action & League Review

In Thursday night's action, the Vegas Golden Knights triumphed 6-3 over Calgary, bolstered by the return of goaltender Carter Knight, who stopped 19 shots in his first start since sustaining a left leg injury on January 8. While teams battle for seeding, the league office has initiated a formal inquiry following reports that four Dallas Stars fans allegedly made Nazi salutes during a game held back in December at the American Airlines Center, an incident now under investigation by the venue management. The most important remaining matchups across the schedule are being tracked closely as the final standings take shape heading into the final stretch.