NHL Hockey 3 Days

Last updated: April 9, 2026, 2:30 PM ET

Playoff Picture & Seeding Battles

The race for top playoff positioning heated up considerably this week, with the Colorado Avalanche clinching the Central Division and securing the Western Conference's No. 1 seed following a 3-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday night. While the win was celebrated, Coach Jared Bednar maintained focus on the immediate future, a sentiment echoed by the Edmonton Oilers, whose dominant victory over the Sharks propelled them into sole possession of first place in the Pacific Division, driven by a five-point performance, including Connor McDavid’s 15th career hat trick. Meanwhile, the Washington Capitals face an uphill climb as they fight for a postseason berth, with Alex Ovechkin stating he will defer any decision on retirement until the season concludes, emphasizing the team’s current necessity to string together wins, particularly in high-stakes matchups like the one against the Maple Leafs as playoff projections remain tight.

Team Personnel & Organizational Shifts

Several organizations experienced significant front-office or coaching turbulence amid the tight playoff race, most strikingly in New Jersey, where the Devils announced that General Manager Tom Fitzgerald is departing the organization as the team seeks a "new direction," compounding earlier news that defenseman Luke Hughes will be shut down immediately to undergo an undisclosed procedure forcing him out of the lineup. In Seattle, a major structural change was confirmed as Kraken President of Hockey Operations Ron Francis announced his resignation effective at the conclusion of the season, while the Islanders moved decisively by formally installing Peter DeBoer as head coach, indicating the team was eager to secure the veteran coach based on his organizational vision.

Injury Updates & Player Returns

The injury landscape saw both encouraging returns and concerning new setbacks across the league. Ottawa Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot is slated to rejoin the lineup for Thursday’s contest against the Panthers, making a remarkably quick return after suffering a broken arm only 17 days prior. Conversely, the Toronto Maple Leafs watched goaltender Anthony Stolarz get helped off the ice during the first period of Wednesday’s game against the Capitals due to a lower-body injury, raising immediate concerns about the team’s netminding depth following the early exit. Furthermore, the NHL is investigating an incident from Monday night where Tampa Bay forward Pontus Holmberg sustained a left arm injury after crashing shoulder-first into an unlatched penalty box door, prompting irritation from Coach Jon Cooper and sparking an official inquiry.

League Milestones & Off-Ice Matters

Individual achievements punctuated the recent slate of games, highlighted by Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov, who, at 32 years old, tallied the 400th goal of his career during Monday’s 4-2 loss to the Sabres, securing the milestone on a power-play marker. Off the ice, the Vegas Golden Knights continued to demonstrate a positive trajectory under their new bench boss, as their unbeaten streak extended to four games following a 2-1 Tuesday night victory over the Vancouver Canucks. In personnel news away from the NHL playoff hunt, the Boston Bruins secured a commitment from highly touted amateur talent, signing former Boston College forward James Hagens to a three-year contract carrying a maximum annual cap hit of $975,000, a deal that followed Hagens’ strong performance in the Beanpot tournament as the MVP recipient. Finally, in disciplinary action, the Dallas Stars confirmed the indefinite ban of a fan whose ticket purchase was linked to an investigation regarding what appeared to be a Nazi salute displayed during a game in December, enforcing a zero-tolerance policy.