NHL Hockey 3 Days

Last updated: April 13, 2026, 8:31 AM ET

NHL Playoff Scenarios & Eliminations

The final stretch of the NHL regular season saw several teams clinch playoff berths while others saw their postseason dreams extinguished, creating high-stakes matchups across the league heading into Monday's slate. The Vegas Golden Knights secured their spot after Jack Eichel scored 1:19 into overtime to sink the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 on Saturday night, while the New York Islanders officially missed out following a decisive 4-1 Sunday loss to the Montreal Canadiens, ending a year where they held a postseason position for much of the campaign. Similarly, the San Jose Sharks' hopes grew thin despite accumulating 30 standings points this season, as a 4-3 shootout defeat against the Canucks left them on the brink, and the Detroit Red Wings' decade-long drought continued after falling 5-3 to the New Jersey Devils, cementing their absence from the dance.

Coaching & Personnel Moves Amid Standings Pressure

Injuries and organizational stability punctuated the hectic closing schedule, as Avalanche bench boss Jared Bednar suffered facial fractures after taking a puck to the face and will miss the remainder of the regular season road trip, though he is expected back for the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Anaheim Ducks committed to their GM, signing Pat Verbeek to a multiyear contract extension, signaling faith in his direction despite the team's standing. On the ice, Chicago's Frank Nazar left Saturday's game after being struck in the face by a puck during the Blackhawks' 5-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues, adding another injury concern as teams push for final seeding or solidify draft lottery positions based on Monday's outcomes.

Awards Watch & League Prestige

As the focus shifts from immediate results to year-end accolades, debate continues over the league’s top individual honor, with the Ted Lindsay Award often viewed alongside the Hart Trophy as markers of the NHL's best player, though the latter carries greater general prestige. Preliminary voting panels suggest Nikita Kucherov is emerging as the frontrunner for the MVP hardware based on final 2026 PHWA voter projections, which also detailed tight races across several other award categories. Separately, the Philadelphia Flyers' coach Rick Tocchet is receiving praise for successfully navigating early criticism, stating, "I bleed orange and black," after steering the team effectively through the season's crucial stages.

Post-Game Sentiments & NCAA Conclusion

In a notable Sunday matchup that featured star power but lacked playoff implications for one side, Alex Ovechkin declined gestures of farewell following Washington's 3-0 defeat to Pittsburgh, waving off potential handshakes with Sidney Crosby and the Penguins contingent despite speculation surrounding his potential retirement. This game occurred after Pittsburgh had opted to scratch Crosby and Malkin hours before the contest, presumably to rest key players ahead of the postseason. Shifting focus to amateur hockey, the University of Denver secured its third national title in five years, defeating Wisconsin 2-1 in the Frozen Four final, an event where Minnesota Duluth's Max Plante was awarded the Hobey Baker Trophy as the nation's top collegiate player, beating out Denver's Eric Pohlkamp.