NHL Hockey 3 Days

Last updated: April 12, 2026, 5:30 AM ET

NHL Playoff Races Intensify & Key Clinches

The Eastern Conference playoff chase saw the Pittsburgh Penguins clinch their spot Thursday, securing their postseason berth by winning five of their last six games and snapping a three-year drought. This victory came as the Washington Capitals defeated Pittsburgh 6-3 on Saturday, during which the Penguins honored Alex Ovechkin with a video tribute in the second period despite scratching stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin prior to the contest scratching stars. Meanwhile, Vegas clinched their berth in dramatic fashion Saturday night when Jack Eichel scored 1:19 into overtime to defeat the Colorado Avalanche 3-2, a game which saw the Avs secure the NHL's top seed earlier in the week Avs clinch top seed following a 3-1 win over Calgary.

The Western Conference saw the Utah Mammoth seal their playoff spot with a fifth consecutive victory, beating Nashville 4-1, though the Ducks' victory over San Jose later that night officially confirmed Utah’s advancement. Conversely, the San Jose Sharks saw their hopes essentially evaporate after falling in a shootout, leaving the team, despite a 30-point jump this season led by forward Tyler Toffoli, teetering on elimination. The Detroit Red Wings also suffered elimination, losing 5-3 to the Devils, which ensures the Original Six franchise will miss the postseason for a full decade. Philadelphia's turnaround under coach Rick Tocchet, who faced early criticism, has seen the team surge back into relevance, with the coach asserting, "I bleed orange and black," as they push for a spot.

Injury Updates & Notable Player Milestones

Saturday’s slate of games brought several concerning injuries, most notably to the Colorado bench, where coach Jared Bednar was hospitalized after taking a puck to the right cheek during the overtime loss to Vegas. The Avalanche are also managing an injury to forward Nazem Kadri, who is expected to miss "some games" with a finger issue Kadri to miss time. Chicago's Frank Nazar also exited Saturday's 5-3 defeat against St. Louis after being struck in the face by a puck Nazar exits game. In personnel news, Ducks General Manager Pat Verbeek agreed to an extension to remain with the franchise for multiple years.

On the performance front, Islanders rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer tied the NHL record for goals by a rookie defender, scoring his 23rd of the season Thursday night to match Hall of Famer Brian Leetch's mark Schaefer ties record. Cole Caufield of the Montreal Canadiens joined an exclusive fraternity, becoming the first player for the franchise in over three decades to reach the 50-goal plateau Caufield joins club. In a rare individual feat, Ducks defenseman John Carlson tallied the first hat trick of his 17-season career during Thursday's 6-1 rout of the Sharks Carlson nets hat trick. Meanwhile, the Great Eight, Alex Ovechkin, continues his historic run, netting his 20th 30-goal campaign, though his contract status remains uncertain beyond the current season Ovechkin’s future unclear.

League Management & Personnel Moves

The league saw several key players sidelined for various reasons heading into the final stretch. New Jersey is shutting down defenseman Luke Hughes for a procedure of undisclosed nature shutting down Hughes, while Sabres goalie Alex Lyon’s status is precarious, with coach Lindy Ruff suggesting he might miss the start of the playoffs due to a strained lower-body muscle Lyon could miss start. Carolina's Jalen Chatfield is also sidelined with a lower-body ailment, having registered a career-high 15 assists this season Chatfield out with injury. Conversely, Ottawa's Thomas Chabot demonstrated remarkable recovery, returning to Thursday's lineup just 17 days after suffering a broken arm Chabot returns quickly. The Wild added a newcomer, signing former UConn standout Viking Gustafsson Nyberg to a two-year, entry-level contract Wild ink defenseman.

NCAA Frozen Four Concludes

The collegiate hockey season culminated with the Denver Pioneers securing their third NCAA title in five years Saturday night in Las Vegas, defeating the Wisconsin Badgers 2-1 in the Frozen Four championship game at T-Mobile Arena. Denver punched their ticket to the final after a double-overtime classic Thursday where Kent Anderson scored the winner in a 4-3 thriller against Michigan Denver wins in 2OT. Wisconsin earned their spot by edging North Dakota 2-1 on Thursday, marking the program's first trip to the title game since 2010 Wisconsin makes final. Individually, Minnesota Duluth's Max Plante was recognized as the nation's top player, capturing the Hobey Baker Award over finalists Eric Pohlkamp and T.J. Hughes Plante captures award.