NHL Hockey 3 Days

Last updated: April 6, 2026, 2:30 PM ET

Eastern Conference Playoff Picture Shakes Out

The race for the top seed in the Atlantic Division tightened considerably over the weekend, even as several teams officially secured their postseason berths securing playoff berths. The Buffalo Sabres clinched their first playoff appearance in 14 seasons, ending the league’s longest active drought, though the divisional crown remains contested between Buffalo and Tampa Bay Atlantic Division title race. Meanwhile, the defending champion Florida Panthers were officially eliminated following a decisive 9-4 defeat to Pittsburgh, ensuring a new championship winner will be crowned for the first time since 2023 miss playoffs.

Wild Card Hunt & Coaching Carousel

The fight for the final Eastern Conference wild card spots saw dramatic shifts during Saturday’s 15-game slate, with several teams making big weekend moves. The Philadelphia Flyers kept their drought-ending hopes alive after Porter Martone netted a power-play overtime winner against Boston in a crucial 2-1 victory OT goal keeps push alive. Amid the intense jockeying for position, the New York Islanders made a mid-season coaching change, firing Patrick Roy after the team dropped seven of their last ten contests and naming Peter DeBoer as the new bench boss Islanders fire Roy.

Stanley Cup Contenders & Olympic Aspirations

As the regular season winds down and playoff seeding solidifies, speculation mounts regarding which players might achieve the rare feat of winning both Olympic gold and the Stanley Cup in the same season, a feat accomplished by only eight players previously Olympic gold medalists. While specific team projections depend heavily on current standings and divisional battles—like the one brewing in the Atlantic full playoff projections—the pursuit of this dual achievement adds an extra layer of historical context to the coming postseason battles most likely double champs.