NHL Hockey 3 Days

Last updated: April 14, 2026, 2:30 AM ET

NHL Playoff Picture Solidifies & Seeding Battles

The Western Conference playoff bracket began taking shape as the idle Anaheim Ducks clinched a berth for the first time since 2015, despite owning a mediocre 3-5-2 record over their last ten outings, a scenario confirmed after the San Jose Sharks defeated the Nashville Predators 3-2 on Monday. The Sharks themselves, despite improving 30 points over last season, found their postseason chances hanging by a thread following a 4-3 shootout loss to the Canucks, illustrating the tight margins this late in the season. Meanwhile, on the Eastern side, first-year coach Rick Tocchet guided the Flyers into the tournament for the first time since 2020 following a 3-2 shootout victory over the Carolina Hurricanes, who had already secured the East's top seed.

The final weekend presented several elimination scenarios, with the New York Islanders seeing their hopes dashed after falling 4-1 to the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday, ending a season where they occupied a postseason spot for most of the schedule. In a similarly disappointing conclusion, the Detroit Red Wings confirmed a decade-long drought by losing 5-3 to the New Jersey Devils, sealing their fate as out of contention. The Vegas Golden Knights punched their ticket Saturday night when Jack Eichel scored in overtime to defeat the Avalanche 3-2, adding drama to a weekend where playoff seeding and the final draft lottery order remained uncertain across the ten matchups scheduled for Monday.

Player Milestones & Injury UpdatesVeteran goaltender Jonathan Quick, 40, concluded a distinguished career spanning nearly two decades and three Stanley Cup victories,** [*making 14 saves in the New York Rangers' 3-2 loss in his final appearance. The league also dealt with significant injury setbacks; Seattle Kraken forward Jared McCann will miss the final three games due to a lower-body ailment, sidelining him for the closing stretch. Furthermore, Colorado Avalanche bench boss Jared Bednar will be absent through the playoffs after suffering facial fractures from taking a puck to the face, forcing him to skip the team's final road trip. Chicago's Frank Nazar also exited Saturday's 5-3 loss to St. Louis after being struck in the face by the puck.**

Rivalries and League HonorsThe storied rivalry between Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby saw a muted confrontation Sunday, as the Penguins** [*scratched their stars ahead of their 100th planned meeting against the Capitals, who subsequently lost 3-0. Following the defeat, Ovechkin declined potential farewell handshakes with Crosby and others, fueling speculation regarding his own retirement plans after the season. Away from the ice action, the discussion surrounding league accolades continues, with experts examining the Ted Lindsay Award as the truest measure of the NHL's MVP, even as Nikita Kucherov maintained a lead in PHWA voting panels for the Hart Trophy.**

Developmental Hockey News

On the amateur front, the University of Denver secured their third NCAA title in five years by defeating Wisconsin 2-1 in the Frozen Four championship game. Separately, the Florida Panthers announced organizational growth plans, revealing that Granato's brother will oversee the launch of a new girls travel hockey program commencing later this year, utilizing the team's current and former practice venues. Minnesota Duluth's Max Plante claimed the Hobey Baker award, becoming the seventh player from the program to earn the honor, besting finalists from Denver and Michigan.