NHL Hockey 3 Days

Last updated: April 14, 2026, 8:30 AM ET

NHL Playoff Picture Solidifies & Seeding Battles

The final stretch of the NHL regular season saw several franchises clinch playoff berths while others saw their postseason dreams extinguished, setting the stage for seeding battles and lottery positioning 1, 8. The Anaheim Ducks secured a spot in the Western Conference despite a mediocre 3-5-2 record in their last ten games, benefiting from the San Jose Sharks' 3-2 victory over the Nashville Predators on Monday, which officially eliminated the Sharks 3. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Flyers punched their ticket to the East bracket, defeating the conference's top seed, the Carolina Hurricanes, 3-2 in a shootout on Monday night, marking their first berth since 2020 4. Coach Rick Tocchet, facing early criticism, has been credited with steering the team back into contention 20. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the New York Islanders saw their hopes dashed after falling 4-1 to the Montreal Canadiens Sunday, eliminating them from playoff contention after holding a postseason spot for the majority of the year 11.

Crucial weekend action saw the Vegas Golden Knights guarantee their entry into the postseason when Jack Eichel scored 1:19 into overtime Saturday, delivering a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche 15. The defeat for Colorado was compounded by news that Coach Jared Bednar suffered facial fractures after taking a puck to the face, meaning he will miss the remainder of the road trip and be absent until the playoffs commence 13. For the Detroit Red Wings, a 5-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Saturday sealed their fate, ensuring the Original Six franchise will miss the postseason for a full decade 18. The intense final matchups provided clarity on seeding, with Tuesday's slate offering key intel on the final order for both conferences 1.

Player Milestones & Injury Updates

Veteran goaltender Jonathan Quick playing in his final NHL game at age 40, recorded 14 saves in the New York Rangers' 3-2 loss earlier this week 7. Quick retires after a decorated career spanning nearly two decades, including three Stanley Cup championships 7. In less fortunate news, Seattle Kraken forward Jared McCann’s season has concluded prematurely; he will miss the final three regular-season games due to a lower-body injury 6. On Saturday, Chicago Blackhawks forward Frank Nazar exited their 5-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues after being struck in the face by a puck 17.

The rivalry between Alex Ovechkin and the Pittsburgh Penguins provided a moment of contemplation when, following Washington's 3-0 Sunday defeat, Ovechkin declined post-game farewell handshakes with Sidney Crosby and the Penguins, fueling speculation regarding his potential retirement plans 12. Adding to the drama surrounding the Penguins' matchup, management opted to scratch stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin ahead of what would have been their 100th career meeting against Ovechkin 19.

Organizational Moves & Offseason Outlook

As several teams finalize their regular-season positioning, attention is already shifting toward offseason planning and the draft lottery 2. For teams that have been eliminated, the focus turns to free agency acquisitions and drafting strategies to bolster expectations for the 2026-27 campaign 2. Beyond the NHL, the Denver Pioneers captured their third NCAA national championship in five years, defeating Wisconsin 2-1 in the Frozen Four final 16. In community development, the Florida Panthers announced plans to launch a new girls' travel hockey program set to begin play later this year out of the team's facilities, with Granato’s brother overseeing the new teams 5.

League Awards Considerations

The race for league accolades is tightening as the season winds down, with voting panels finalizing their selections for the major trophies 10. While the Hart Memorial Trophy carries significant prestige, there is a growing case for the Ted Lindsay Award to be recognized as the definitive trophy for the NHL's Most Valuable Player 9. Finalists for all major awards are being identified by panels of Professional Hockey Writers' Association voters, indicating some categories are seeing close contests 10.