NHL Hockey 3 Days

Last updated: April 3, 2026, 11:30 PM ET

NHL Playoff Races & Season-Ending Injuries

The race for the postseason intensified this week as the Minnesota Wild secured their berth, clinching a spot and ensuring they have another opportunity to advance past the first round for the first time since 2015. However, the Columbus Blue Jackets face a definitive end to their campaign, as defenseman Damon Severson underwent season-ending shoulder surgery on Thursday, removing a key blue-liner from their roster. As the league enters the crucial final stretch, updated playoff projections show the Philadelphia Flyers needing a victory in their Friday contest alongside external assistance to maintain their postseason hopes, while analysts scrutinize which of the California-based franchises—the Ducks, Sharks, or Kings—will ultimately secure a spot.

Individual Milestones & Goaltending Highlights

Colorado's Nathan Mac Kinnon achieved a major scoring milestone on Wednesday night, becoming the first NHL player this season to reach the 50-goal plateau after beating Vancouver’s Kevin Lankinen early in the first period. This offensive surge comes despite a slight setback for the Avalanche, as defenseman Cale Makar will miss several games due to an undisclosed upper-body injury sustained during a recent victory over the Flames. Meanwhile, goaltender Carter Hart returned successfully from injury, stopping 19 shots in the Vegas Golden Knights’ 6-3 Thursday win over Calgary in his first start since January 8th after dealing with a left leg issue.

Goalie Battles & Player Safety Discussions

A rare on-ice confrontation occurred in the matchup between the New York Rangers and the New Jersey Devils, where Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin and his counterpart Jacob Markstrom engaged in a lengthy fight midway through the third period of New York's 4-1 victory, capturing widespread attention. Separately, Washington's Alex Ovechkin continued his march toward history, extending his personal record by netting his 20th career 30-goal season in the Capitals' 6-4 win over the Flyers on Tuesday. In player safety discussions, Hall of Famer Chris Pronger offered his perspective regarding the recent hit on Auston Matthews and the ongoing role of the league's Player Safety department.

Off-Ice Matters & Fan Conduct Investigations

Beyond the on-ice action, the Dallas Stars organization is launching an inquiry into the conduct of four fans observed making what appeared to be a Nazi salute during a game played back in December at the American Airlines Center. In other personal narratives, Carolina Hurricanes goalie Brandon Bussi is enjoying a record-breaking debut season, drawing inspiration from his brother Dylan as the 27-year-old netminder continues his ascent. The league's focus remains divided between the intense playoff positioning—where analysts are studying the most important remaining matchups across the schedule with fewer than 10 games left—and managing internal incidents involving fan behavior and player welfare, such as Sam Carrick’s left arm injury sustained during a Tuesday fight with Islanders captain Anders Lee.