NHL Hockey 24 Hours

Last updated: April 12, 2026, 11:30 AM ET

NHL Playoff Picture Tightens & Coaching Scare

The race for the final Western Conference spots tightened considerably as the Vegas Golden Knights secured a berth following a hard-fought 3-2 overtime victory against the Colorado Avalanche. Jack Eichel blasted the winner just 1:19 into the extra frame, sending Vegas to the postseason. Regrettably, the game was marred by an injury scare when Avalanche coach Jared Bednar was hospitalized after sustaining a direct hit from a puck to his right cheek during the contest. Meanwhile, the San Jose Sharks kept their slim hopes alive but remained on the brink of elimination after falling 4-3 in a shootout to the Vancouver Canucks, despite having improved their standing by 30 points this season.

Eastern Conference Playoff Woes & Tributes

Postseason aspirations officially ended for the Detroit Red Wings after they succumbed 5-3 to the non-contending New Jersey Devils, confirming the Original Six franchise will miss the playoffs for a full decade. In the nation’s capital, the Washington Capitals defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-3 in a contest overshadowed by pre-game acknowledgments. The Penguins organization showed a video tribute to Alex Ovechkin during a television timeout, though Pittsburgh opted to scratch key players like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin ahead of what would have been their 100th head-to-head meeting against Ovechkin.

Injury Updates & Collegiate Success

The league continued to see impacts from stray pucks, as Chicago Blackhawks forward Frank Nazar exited his team’s 5-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues after taking a hard shot directly to the face. Away from the NHL action, the University of Denver claimed the NCAA men's hockey championship, defeating Wisconsin 2-1 in the Frozen Four to secure the program's third national title in the last five seasons.