NHL Hockey 3 Days

Last updated: April 12, 2026, 11:30 PM ET

NHL Playoff Picture Finalized & Eliminations

The final stretch of the NHL regular season concluded with several key teams clinched their playoff berths while others saw their postseason hopes abruptly extinguished. The Vegas Golden Knights punched their ticket Saturday night after Jack Eichel scored in overtime during a 3-2 victory against the Colorado Avalanche, securing the team's spot with only days remaining in the schedule. Conversely, the New York Islanders watched their season end following a decisive 4-1 defeat to the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday, marking the painful conclusion for a team that held a postseason position for the majority of the campaign. The Detroit Red Wings also saw their drought extend, falling 5-3 to the New Jersey Devils, which guaranteed the Original Six franchise a tenth consecutive year out of the playoffs.

Other teams fighting for the final spots experienced significant setbacks as the pressure mounted over the weekend. The San Jose Sharks remained on the brink after dropping a shootout contest to the Canucks, despite having jumped 30 points in the standings this season. Meanwhile, the Utah Mammoth celebrated clinching their playoff spot in only their second season of existence, following a 4-1 victory over the Nashville Predators and confirmed by the Ducks' loss to the Sharks later that evening.

Coaching & Player Injury Updates

The Colorado Avalanche, who clinched the NHL's top seed Thursday with a 3-1 win against Calgary, are facing immediate adversity on the bench as head coach Jared Bednar suffered facial fractures after being struck by a puck. Bednar will not travel with the team for their final road trip to Western Canada, leaving the bench staff to manage the team as they head into the postseason. Player health also became a concern for the Chicago Blackhawks, as forward Frank Nazar exited Saturday's game against the St. Louis Blues after taking a puck directly to the face during the 5-3 loss.

Eastern Conference Stars & Legacy Watch

The anticipated showdown between Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby on Sunday ended anticlimactically when the Penguins scratched their stars including Crosby and Malkin ahead of what would have been their 100th career meeting. Following Washington’s subsequent 3-0 loss to Pittsburgh, Ovechkin, whose contract expires this season despite his recent 20th 30-goal campaign, waved off discussions of potential farewell handshakes with Crosby, maintaining focus despite his unclear future. Philadelphia Flyers coach Rick Tocchet earned praise from the organization after successfully navigating early criticism and guiding the team effectively, with the coach stating that he "bleeds orange and black".

Ducks Management & Individual Milestones

In organizational news, the Anaheim Ducks secured their general manager Pat Verbeek with a multiyear contract extension as the team continues its rebuilding efforts. On the ice, veteran Ducks defenseman John Carlson achieved a career milestone Thursday night, netting the first hat trick of his 17-season tenure during a dominant 6-1 rout of the Sharks.

NCAA Hockey Concludes

The college hockey season came to a close this weekend with the conclusion of the Frozen Four in the NCAA tournament. The University of Denver Pioneers captured their third national title in five years, defeating Wisconsin 2-1 in the final. Denver secured their spot in the championship game after stunning Michigan in a double-overtime thriller, 4-3, where Kent Anderson scored the decisive goal in the semifinal. Individually, Max Plante of Minnesota Duluth was awarded the Hobey Baker Award as the nation's top player, beating out Denver's Eric Pohlkamp and Michigan's T.J. Hughes for the prestigious honor.