NHL Hockey 3 Days

Last updated: April 13, 2026, 11:30 PM ET

NHL Playoff Clinchings & Eliminations

The final stretch of the NHL regular season delivered significant drama as playoff berths were secured and others dashed over the weekend and into Monday. The Vegas Golden Knights punched their ticket after Jack Eichel scored 1 minute and 19 seconds into overtime to defeat the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 on Saturday night. Conversely, the New York Islanders watched their postseason hopes vanish Sunday night following a decisive 4-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, which ended their run despite holding a playoff spot for much of the campaign. The San Jose Sharks also find themselves teetering on elimination after dropping a 4-3 shootout decision to the Canucks, even as the club managed to jump 30 standings points this season.

The Philadelphia Flyers, galvanized under first-year coach Rick Tocchet, clinched their playoff spot Monday night by edging out the Eastern Conference's top seed, the Carolina Hurricanes, 3-2 in a shootout at home, successfully concluding a season where Tocchet steadied the team following early criticism. Meanwhile, the Detroit Red Wings suffered a defeat against the New Jersey Devils, 5-3, on Saturday, a loss that formally ended their drought, meaning the Original Six franchise will miss the postseason for a full decade. The intensity of the playoff race was palpable across the league, with Monday featuring ten critical matchups where seeding and draft lottery positions were actively being decided.

Rangers Veteran Bids Farewell & Injury Updates

Goaltender Jonathan Quick, a three-time Stanley Cup champion, made his final career appearance in the New York Rangers' 3-2 defeat on Monday, stopping 14 shots in a decorated career spanning nearly two decades in the league. The final weekend also brought concerning injury news, as Seattle Kraken forward Jared McCann was ruled out for the team's final three regular-season contests due to a lower-body issue. Furthermore, the Colorado Avalanche will navigate the end of the regular season without Head Coach Jared Bednar, who suffered facial fractures after being struck by a puck and will miss the team's road trip to western Canada, remaining out until the playoffs commence. Chicago Blackhawks forward Frank Nazar also exited Saturday's 5-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues after taking a puck to the face.

League News & Award Watch

The Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin, potentially in his final season, declined farewell gestures from the Pittsburgh Penguins following a 3-0 Sunday loss, while Pittsburgh elected to scratch stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin ahead of that matchup. In league development news outside of immediate standings battles, the Florida Panthers announced plans Monday to launch a girls travel hockey program that will utilize both current and former practice facilities later this year. On the awards front, the debate continues over which trophy represents the league's true MVP, with the Ted Lindsay Award often serving as the benchmark for player excellence alongside the Hart Trophy winner. Finally, PHWA voter panels have begun identifying their leading finalists for the 2026 NHL Awards, indicating tight races in several major categories.

NCAA Championship Concludes

In amateur hockey news, the University of Denver secured their third national title in the last five years, defeating Wisconsin 2-1 in the NCAA Frozen Four championship game on Saturday. Denver's Max Plante was also recognized individually, capturing the Hobey Baker Award as the nation's top collegiate player, beating out finalists Eric Pohlkamp of Denver and T.J. Hughes from Michigan.