NHL Hockey 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: March 14, 2026, 2:39 PM ET
NHL Playoff Picture
The NHL's 14-game Saturday slate features the Bruins-Capitals matchup as the marquee contest, with Boston holding a two-point edge in the playoff race. The Maple Leafs saw their postseason hopes dim after Radko Gudas received a five-game suspension for a knee-on-knee hit that ended Auston Matthews' season, marking the second time in three years the star center has been knocked out by an illegal check. Meanwhile, the Sharks bolstered their forward depth by signing Ty Dellandrea to a two-year, $3.25 million extension, rewarding the 24-year-old's emergence as a reliable two-way center.
League Discipline
The NHL Department of Player Safety handed down its first major suspension of the season, banning Gudas for five games without pay for the hit that left Matthews with a lower-body injury. The suspension carries a $54,054 fine, representing the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement. Gudas, who has a history of disciplinary issues, will miss games against Washington, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Carolina, and Tampa Bay, leaving the Ducks shorthanded on their blue line during a critical stretch of the season.
Contract Moves
San Jose's front office secured a key depth piece by extending Dellandrea before he reached restricted free agency. The two-year deal averages $1.625 million annually, a modest raise from his current $1.35 million salary. The Sharks viewed the extension as a priority given Dellandrea's versatility and penalty-killing contributions, particularly as they look to build around their young core of prospects. The contract includes a modified no-trade clause in the second year, reflecting the organization's confidence in his continued development.