NHL Hockey 3 Days

Last updated: April 7, 2026, 8:30 AM ET

NHL Playoff Races Intensify & Coaching Changes

The race for the final Eastern Conference seeds saw massive movement over the weekend, culminating in several high-stakes matchups Tuesday as teams fought for positioning ranking the most important matchups. The Buffalo Sabres clinched their first playoff berth in franchise history, ending an NHL-record 14-season drought, though the No. 1 seed in the Atlantic Division remained up for grabs between Buffalo and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Meanwhile, the reigning champion Florida Panthers were officially eliminated following a crushing 9-4 defeat to Pittsburgh, marking the first time since 2023 that the Cup will have a new winner. On the bubble, Porter Martone's overtime power-play goal nudged the Philadelphia Flyers closer to ending their own playoff drought with a 2-1 victory against Boston Sunday.

The Islanders initiated significant coaching upheaval late in the season, firing coach Patrick Roy after the team dropped seven of its last ten contests and immediately naming Peter DeBoer as his successor, a move the organization felt was necessary to capitalize on the team’s immediate vision Islanders jumped at DeBoer. In New Jersey, the front office also underwent an abrupt shakeup as General Manager Tom Fitzgerald was let go as the Devils look to establish a "new direction" following their own disappointing campaign. Adding to the league’s off-ice turbulence, Ottawa Charge coach Carla Mac Leod announced she is taking an indefinite leave to continue her treatment for breast cancer.

Player Milestones & League Investigations

Tampa Bay superstar Nikita Kucherov, at 32 years old, reached a significant career milestone Monday night, netting his 400th career goal during a power-play opportunity in the Lightning's 4-2 loss to the Sabres at Key Bank Center. However, the same game brought controversy as the league has opened an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding forward Pontus Holmberg’s injury; Holmberg hurt his left arm after crashing shoulder-first into a penalty box door that was reportedly unlatched. In matters unrelated to on-ice play, the Dallas Stars indefinitely banned a ticket buyer connected to an incident in December where an alleged Nazi salute was observed during a game.

Fantasy Outlook & Future Contenders

As the regular season concluded, attention turned toward maximizing final-week fantasy hockey performance, with analysts providing guidance on essential Monday pickups and lineup strategy for championship matchups. Looking further ahead to international prospects, pundits debated which NHL players currently competing have the best chance of achieving the rare feat of securing both an Olympic gold medal and the Stanley Cup in the same season, noting that only eight players have ever pulled off the "double champs" scenario ranking the top candidates.