NHL Hockey 24 Hours

Last updated: April 9, 2026, 8:30 PM ET

Pacific Division Race & Star Power

Connor McDavid delivered a dominant performance, netting his 15th career hat trick and adding two assists in the Oilers' victory over the Sharks, which propelled Edmonton into sole possession of first place in the Pacific Division heading toward the postseason. While the Oilers celebrated a massive win, several contenders battled significant injury setbacks across the league Thursday. Colorado star Nazem Kadri will be sidelined for "some games" after sustaining a finger injury, and Carolina defenseman Jalen Chatfield was ruled out against Chicago due to a lower-body issue, threatening the Hurricanes' defensive depth as the regular season winds down.

Goaltender & Defenseman Injury Updates

The injury bug continued to bite high-profile players, with Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff confirming Thursday that goalie Alex Lyon might miss the start of the playoffs due to a strained lower-body muscle. Furthermore, the New Jersey Devils announced they are shutting down defenseman Luke Hughes to undergo an undisclosed procedure, adding further uncertainty to Eastern Conference playoff seeding battles. In contrast, the Ottawa Senators received a massive boost as defenseman Thomas Chabot will return Thursday, playing just 17 days after suffering a broken arm in a remarkable recovery timeline.

Seattle Kraken Organizational Shift

The Seattle Kraken organization faces a period of transition amid disappointing on-ice results, with team co-owner Tod Leiweke expressing commitment to fixing the club's ongoing struggles as they near playoff elimination. Adding to the organizational changes, the team confirmed Wednesday that long-time hockey operations president Ron Francis is stepping down at the conclusion of the season. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Wild bolstered their development pipeline by signing defenseman Viking Gustafsson Nyberg, the former UConn standout, to a two-year, entry-level contract that commences immediately.

Goaltending Concerns Continue

The string of goaltender issues extended beyond Buffalo, as Toronto Maple Leafs netminder Anthony Stolarz required assistance leaving Wednesday’s game versus the Capitals early in the first period due to a lower-body injury. Stolarz’s early exit added immediate pressure on backup options and fueled further concern over the depth of contending teams heading into the final stretch of the schedule.