NHL Hockey 24-Hour Briefing

Last updated: March 15, 2026, 5:50 AM ET

NHL Playoff Race

Saturday's 14-game slate centers on the Bruins-Capitals rivalry, a critical matchup with direct playoff seeding implications. Full projections reveal a three-point gap separating the final two Eastern Conference wild-card spots, while Western Conference standings remain fluid. Draft lottery odds also shifted following recent results, affecting the top-ten pick probabilities for several clubs.