HeadlinesBriefing favicon HeadlinesBriefing

NHL Hockey 24 Hours

×
8 articles summarized · Last updated: v859
You are viewing an older version. View latest →

Last updated: April 14, 2026, 5:30 AM ET

NHL Playoff Picture Solidifies in West & East

The Western Conference playoff bracket began taking shape Monday as the San Jose Sharks defeated the Nashville Predators 3-2, a result that officially clinched a postseason berth for the idle Anaheim Ducks, marking their first appearance since 2015 despite the Ducks' recent struggles, posting a 3-5-2 record over their last ten outings. Meanwhile, in the Eastern Conference, the Philadelphia Flyers, under first-year coach Rick Tocchet, secured their first playoff appearance since 2020 by edging out the conference-leading Carolina Hurricanes in a 3-2 shootout victory, highlighting the tight margins remaining as teams finalize seeding with only a few regular-season contests left. The pressure remains high across the league, with ten matchups on tap to determine final standings and the draft lottery order for non-contenders.

League Milestones & Player Updates

Veteran goaltender Jonathan Quick, 40, concluded a storied career spanning nearly two decades, recording 14 saves in the New York Rangers' 3-2 defeat during what was his final NHL appearance where he was honored for his three Stanley Cup championships. Contrastingly, the Seattle Kraken face a personnel setback as forward Jared McCann will miss the final three games due to a lower-body injury, forcing the team to adjust its lineup for their concluding stretch. Off the ice, the Florida Panthers organization announced new initiatives, unveiling plans for a girls travel hockey program starting later this year, which will operate out of the team's facilities and be managed by the brother of coach Paul Maurice.

Awards Watch

As the regular season winds down, attention is shifting toward end-of-year accolades, with the Ted Lindsay Award continuing its relevance as a metric for the league's most outstanding player, often sharing consensus with the Hart Trophy winner. Furthermore, expert panels are already compiling their leading candidates for the 2026 awards, with several categories showing extremely tight voting among the Professional Hockey Writers' Association voters surveyed for early finalist projections.