NHL Hockey 3 Hours

Last updated: April 9, 2026, 11:30 PM ET

NHL Playoff Race & Individual Milestones

The Eastern Conference playoff picture solidified as the Pittsburgh Penguins clinched a postseason berth Thursday night, winning five of their last six games to snap a three-year drought away from contention. Meanwhile, individual scoring records fell in Montreal, where Cole Caufield reached the 50-goal mark, becoming the first Canadien to achieve that feat in over three decades. On Long Island, rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer matched a league standard by tallying his 23rd goal, tying the NHL record previously set by Hall of Famer Brian Leetch for goals by a first-year defenseman tying the rookie record.

Defensive Injuries Plague Contenders

Injury concerns emerged for key defensive players across the league ahead of crucial late-season matchups. Nashville Predators captain Roman Josi was scratched late for the game against Utah due to an undisclosed upper-body ailment, forcing the team to adjust its back end. Similarly, Carolina Hurricanes blueliner Jalen Chatfield was ruled out against Chicago with a lower-body injury, sidelining a player who had contributed a career-high 15 assists this season alongside his two goals.

NCAA Hockey Update

Shifting focus to amateur ranks, the University of Wisconsin men's hockey team advanced to the final after defeating North Dakota 2-1 in the Frozen Four semifinal on Thursday, securing their first appearance in the national championship game since 2010.