NHL Hockey 24 Hours

Last updated: April 10, 2026, 5:30 AM ET

NHL Playoff Races Tighten & Seeding Secured

The Colorado Avalanche clinched the NHL's top seed for the postseason following a hard-fought 3-1 victory over the Calgary Flames on Thursday night, setting the stage for home-ice advantage throughout their Western Conference run. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Penguins secured their own playoff berth by capturing their fifth win in their last six games since March 30, successfully snapping a three-year drought without postseason participation. Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference race, the Utah Mammoth punched their playoff ticket by defeating the Nashville Predators 4-1 for their fifth consecutive win, a berth confirmed later that evening when the Anaheim Ducks routed the San Jose Sharks.

Defensive Milestones and Injury Updates

New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer equaled a major rookie benchmark, scoring his 23rd goal of the season Thursday night to tie the NHL record for goals by a rookie defenseman, matching the mark set by Hall of Famer Brian Leetch decades ago. On the offensive side, Montreal Canadiens forward Cole Caufield joined an elite scoring group, becoming the first player in the franchise in over thirty years to eclipse the 50-goal plateau in a single season. Injury concerns are mounting for several contenders; Nashville's top blue-liner Roman Josi was scratched late due to an upper-body ailment before the loss to Utah, while Carolina's Jalen Chatfield, who posted a career-high 15 assists, will miss time with a lower-body issue against Chicago.

Veteran Feats & Roster Moves

In a rare highlight for a rebuilding franchise, Anaheim's John Carlson recorded his first career hat trick during the Ducks' decisive 6-1 dismantling of the Sharks in his 17th professional season. Contrasting the veteran success, Ottawa Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot demonstrated impressive recovery, returning to the lineup against the Panthers just 17 days after suffering a broken arm. Furthermore, the New Jersey Devils announced they are shutting down defenseman Luke Hughes to undergo a procedure, though the specific nature of the required surgery remains undisclosed. The Minnesota Wild, looking toward future depth, finalized a two-year contract with defenseman Viking Gustafsson Nyberg, a former UConn standout, beginning with the current campaign.

NCAA Frozen Four Drama

The college hockey world delivered a dramatic contest as the Denver Pioneers prevailed in double overtime, defeating Michigan 4-3 with Kent Anderson netting the decisive goal, propelling Denver into Saturday's Frozen Four championship game. Standing between Denver and the national title is the Wisconsin Badgers, who advanced to the final for the first time since 2010 after edging out North Dakota 2-1 in their semifinal matchup Thursday.

Team Outlooks Amid Uncertainty

While the Seattle Kraken are facing imminent elimination from the NHL postseason picture, CEO Tod Leiweke quickly vowed organizational commitment to correcting the team's trajectory, stating plainly that "we're committed to fixing it." Adding to the goaltending woes across the league, Buffalo Sabres netminder Alex Lyon is doubtful for the playoff start, with coach Lindy Ruff citing a strained lower-body muscle as the reason for his potential absence. Finally, Colorado's Nazem Kadri will be sidelined for "some games" after sustaining a finger injury, a setback for the top-seeded Avalanche heading into the final stretch of the regular season.