NHL Hockey 3 Days

Last updated: April 1, 2026, 2:30 PM ET

Playoff Races & Injury Woes

The race for postseason positioning intensified across the league this week as several key teams battled injuries and crucial matchups, with the Avalanche losing star defenseman Cale Makar to an upper-body injury that will sideline him for multiple games following a recent victory over Calgary. Meanwhile, Metropolitan Division rivals faced off Monday, with playoff projections indicating potential April rematches, while other contenders like the Hurricanes and Blue Jackets fought for seeding points in a tight Tuesday contest. Intrigue also surrounds the Western Conference bubble, as Wednesday's slate included action from all three California clubs—the Ducks, Sharks, and Kings—in their quest to secure playoff berths.

Executive & Coaching Changes

The front offices saw significant movement, most dramatically in Toronto where the Maple Leafs fired general manager Brad Treliving on Monday, a move the team's new CEO Keith Pelley later attributed to a need for better "alignment" and "culture" within the organization following the playoff miss. Contrasting that cleanup, the Dallas Stars retained GM Jim Nill for two additional seasons through 2027-28, rewarding stability. Elsewhere, the Vegas Golden Knights made a surprise mid-season change, reportedly firing coach Bruce Cassidy on Sunday, with GM Kelly McCrimmon suggesting players had lost their spark, leading to the hiring of John Tortorella in an attempt to reignite their Cup ambitions.

Player Milestones & On-Ice Incidents

On the ice, Alex Ovechkin continued his historic march, scoring twice to secure his 20th career 30-goal season—a record he now solely owns—as the Washington Capitals defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 6-4 Tuesday night. However, the week was also marked by physical altercations; Sabres center Sam Carrick sustained a left arm injury after engaging in a lengthy fight with Islanders captain Anders Lee during Tuesday's game following an on-ice scuffle. In a rarer spectacle, Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin and Devils counterpart Jacob Markstrom engaged in a protracted goaltending duel midway through the third period of New York's 4-1 triumph Tuesday.

League Commentary & Business Moves

In league affairs, Hall of Famer Chris Pronger weighed in on the recent high-profile hit on Auston Matthews, offering his assessment on the incident and the ongoing state of NHL Player Safety protocols. On the administrative front, teams were provided with a new internal tool by the league office to help accurately calculate cap compliance under the forthcoming playoff roster rules. Furthermore, the Florida Panthers bolstered their business operations side, announcing the hiring of Michael White, a former executive from Amazon & Disney, to serve as the team's new president of business operations.

Injury Returns & Fantasy Implications

While some stars departed the lineup, others returned to bolster their teams' late-season pushes, including Sidney Crosby, who rejoined the Penguins lineup Monday after missing a game with a lower-body issue as Pittsburgh routed the Islanders. For fantasy hockey managers preparing for league finals, the weekly pickup guide suggested targeting hot-scoring players like McMann and Snuggerud for immediate roster boosts. For the majority of fan bases whose teams will miss the cut, ESPN provided a guide ranking the top Stanley Cup bandwagons to follow in the tournament bracket.