NHL Hockey 24 Hours

Last updated: April 13, 2026, 8:31 AM ET

Stanley Cup Playoff Picture & Regular Season Drama

With the regular season winding down, playoff positioning heated up across the league, as several key matchups determined final seeding implications while the draft lottery order crystallized. The drama included the immediate elimination of the New York Islanders, whose postseason aspirations were officially dashed following a decisive 4-1 Sunday loss against the Montreal Canadiens, concluding a tenure in a playoff spot that lasted most of the campaign. Elsewhere, Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin, amid speculation regarding his retirement plans, politely refused farewell handshakes with rivals like Sidney Crosby after the Capitals fell 3-0 to the Pittsburgh Penguins, adding a layer of finality to the rivalry's potential closing chapter.

Coaching Setbacks & League Accolades

Coaching staffs faced unforeseen adversity as Colorado Avalanche bench boss Jared Bednar sustained facial fractures after absorbing a puck to the face, an injury that will sideline him for the remainder of the road trip and keep him out until the playoffs commence. Meanwhile, discussions surrounding the league's top individual honors continued, with voters finalizing their ballots for the upcoming NHL Awards, where Nikita Kucherov is emerging as the frontrunner for the Hart Memorial Trophy. Although the Ted Lindsay Award recipient is also recognized as the league's best player, pundits continue to debate the relative prestige of that honor compared to the Hart Trophy, which traditionally carries greater weight in historical context regarding MVP status.