NHL Hockey 24 Hours

Last updated: April 13, 2026, 11:30 AM ET

Stanley Cup Race & Playoff Picture

With the regular season winding down, the pressure intensified across the league as teams battled for final seeding ahead of the postseason bracket being set. The New York Islanders officially saw their postseason hopes vanish following a 4-1 defeat to the Montreal Canadiens, concluding a frustrating stretch for a team that held a playoff spot for much of the campaign. Elsewhere, Avalanche Head Coach Jared Bednar faces a challenging end to the season, as he sustained facial fractures after taking a puck to the face and will miss the team's final road trip, though he is expected back before the playoffs commence.

Player Milestones & Award Races

Speculation surrounding future player accolades continued as the league assessed MVP candidates, with Nikita Kucherov solidifying his lead among PHWA voters for the Hart Memorial Trophy, an award often considered the benchmark for the league's best player alongside the Ted Lindsay Award which carries its own prestige. Meanwhile, Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin, facing potential retirement after this season, declined farewell handshakes with Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins following their 3-0 victory over the Capitals Sunday, suggesting a focus purely on the remaining games rather than ceremony.