NHL Hockey 24 Hours

Last updated: April 13, 2026, 5:30 PM ET

NHL Playoff Picture & Player Futures

The final stretch of the NHL regular season saw the New York Islanders officially eliminated following a decisive 4-1 defeat against the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday night, dashing postseason aspirations they held for the majority of the year. Adding to personnel news, Seattle Kraken forward Jared McCann is sidelined for the remainder of the regular season, confirmed to miss the final three contests due to a lower-body injury, complicating their push for seeding. Meanwhile, the league is watching 10 crucial matchups as teams vie for playoff positioning and determine the final draft lottery order in these closing games.

Retirement & Award Buzz

Veteran goaltender Jonathan Quick announced his impending retirement at the age of 40, concluding a distinguished nearly two-decade career where he established himself as one of his generation's elite netminders. Separately, speculation continues regarding top individual honors, with internal PHWA voting panels placing Nikita Kucherov ahead for the MVP award ahead of the final tally. Discussion also persists around the Ted Lindsay Award, which serves as an alternate measure for the league's most dominant player, drawing comparisons to the official Hart Trophy winner.

Capitals & Penguins Rivalry

In a contest steeped in historical weight, the Washington Capitals fell 3-0 to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday, prompting a noteworthy interaction between aging superstars. Following the defeat, Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin waved off potential farewell handshakes with Sidney Crosby and the Penguins, despite ongoing speculation surrounding his own potential retirement plans at season's end.