NHL Hockey 3 Days

Last updated: April 14, 2026, 5:30 AM ET

NHL Playoff Picture Crystallizes as Seeding Battles Heat Up

The Western Conference bracket began to take shape following Monday’s slate, with the Anaheim Ducks clinching their first postseason berth since 2015 despite a lackluster 3-5-2 record over their last ten outings, a result cemented after the San Jose Sharks defeated the Nashville Predators 3-2. The Golden Knights also punched their ticket Saturday night when Jack Eichel scored 1:19 into overtime to down the Colorado Avalanche 3-2, demonstrating the high stakes across the final stretch of games where seeding and draft lottery order remain unsettled across the league as ten matchups tipped off Monday. Conversely, the New York Islanders saw their postseason dreams collapse Sunday after a decisive 4-1 defeat against the Montreal Canadiens, which officially eliminated them from contention after they held a playoff spot for the majority of the season.

The Eastern Conference saw the Philadelphia Flyers secure their first playoff appearance since 2020, achieving the feat by defeating the Carolina Hurricanes, the conference's top seed, 3-2 in a shootout Monday night in front of their home crowd, a turnaround credited to first-year coach Rick Tocchet steering the team back into the race. However, the Detroit Red Wings’ pursuit ended Saturday afternoon with a 5-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils, a defeat that guaranteed the Original Six franchise will miss the playoffs for a full decade. Meanwhile, the ongoing drama surrounding potential retirements was evident as Alex Ovechkin declined farewell handshakes with Sidney Crosby and the Penguins following Washington’s 3-0 Sunday loss, with Pittsburgh having chosen to scratch Crosby and other stars hours before that contest against the Capitals.

Player Injuries and Personnel Updates

Several teams are facing roster concerns as they enter the final critical games, most notably the Seattle Kraken, whose forward Jared McCann will miss the final three games due to a lower-body injury, impacting their playoff push. Further injury concerns arose Saturday when Chicago Blackhawks forward Frank Nazar exited their 5-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues after being struck in the face with a puck. On the coaching front, Colorado Avalanche bench boss Jared Bednar will be absent for the remainder of the road trip and potentially the start of the playoffs after he sustained facial fractures from taking a puck to the face, meaning he will not accompany the team to western Canada to conclude the regular season.

In a career milestone, 40-year-old goaltender Jonathan Quick wrapped up his decorated NHL tenure in his final game, making 14 saves during the New York Rangers’ 3-2 defeat; Quick retires after nearly two decades in the league having captured the Stanley Cup three times during his lengthy career. Beyond the NHL, collegiate hockey concluded with Denver University claiming its third NCAA national championship in five years, defeating Wisconsin 2-1 in the Frozen Four on Saturday night. Furthermore, the Florida Panthers announced organizational developments Monday, revealing plans to launch a girls travel hockey program that will commence operations later this year out of the team’s existing and former practice venues, with Granato’s brother set to lead the new teams.

Awards Watch and League Recognition

The focus on individual achievements continues as the season winds down, with analysts continuing to debate the merits of the Ted Lindsay Award, positing that the winner of that trophy, alongside the Hart Memorial Trophy recipient, can both be considered the league’s preeminent player as the MVP trophy debate rages. Media panels are already with a panel of PHWA voters recently identifying their leading finalists across various categories for the 2026 NHL Awards, indicating that tight finishes are emerging in several major categories.