NHL Hockey 3h Briefing
×Last updated: March 14, 2026, 9:56 AM ET
NHL Saturday Slate
Fourteen games highlight Saturday's NHL schedule, with the Boston Bruins-Washington Capitals espn.com matchup drawing the most attention as both teams jostle for playoff positioning. The Bruins hold a slim lead espn.com in the Eastern Conference standings, while the Capitals trail by just two points espn.com with a game in hand. Other notable contests include the Colorado Avalanche visiting the Vegas Golden Knights espn.com in a battle of top Western Conference contenders and the Toronto Maple Leafs hosting the Florida Panthers espn.com in a rematch of last season's playoff series.
Playoff Picture
With less than a month remaining in the regular season, the playoff race intensifies espn.com across both conferences. The Florida Panthers maintain their lead espn.com in the Atlantic Division despite a recent slump, while the Carolina Hurricanes surge espn.com into the wild-card picture with seven wins in their last ten games. In the West, the Dallas Stars and Winnipeg Jets espn.com battle for the Central Division lead, separated by just one point. The Seattle Kraken hold the first wild-card spot espn.com but face pressure from the Los Angeles Kings espn.com, who are just two points back with a game in hand.
Draft Lottery Implications
Teams at the bottom of the standings continue to position themselves for the draft lottery, with the Columbus Blue Jackets espn.com holding the best odds at 18.5% for the top pick. The Chicago Blackhawks espn.com and San Jose Sharks espn.com follow closely behind, while the Anaheim Ducks espn.com have surged with recent wins but still maintain strong lottery positioning. The draft lottery will be held April 8 espn.com, determining the top three picks before the remainder of the first round proceeds in inverse order of regular-season standings.