NHL Hockey 24 Hours

Last updated: April 3, 2026, 8:30 PM ET

NHL Playoff Picture & Personnel News

The postseason picture solidified as the Minnesota Wild clinched their spot following a victory against the Canucks, marking their first appearance in the NHL tournament since 2015. This race intensified for other Eastern Conference hopefuls, where the Philadelphia Flyers require a win in their Friday contest, alongside favorable results from other teams, to keep their slim playoff projections alive after a busy 14-game slate Thursday night. Unfortunately for the Columbus Blue Jackets, their defensive corps suffered a significant setback as defenseman Damon Severson underwent season-ending shoulder surgery on Thursday, removing a key contributor for the remainder of the schedule.

Western Conference Action & Rankings Shift

In Western Conference action, the Vegas Golden Knights secured a 6-3 victory over the Flames, aided by the triumphant return of goaltender Carter Knight, who stopped 19 shots in his first start since sustaining a left leg injury back on January 8. As the regular season winds down with fewer than ten games remaining for every franchise, the league-wide focus shifts to the most consequential remaining matchups, which are now being assessed in the latest set of league-wide power rankings. These final contests will determine seeding matchups across all four divisions heading into the final push for the Stanley Cup.