NHL Hockey 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: March 14, 2026, 1:43 PM ET
NHL Playoff Picture
The NHL's 14-game slate Saturday features the Bruins-Capitals showdown as the marquee matchup, with Boston holding a slim lead in the Atlantic Division while Washington fights to maintain its wild-card position. The full playoff projections show the Rangers and Oilers solidifying their hold on top seeds in their respective conferences, with the draft lottery standings indicating Colorado and Chicago as frontrunners for the first overall pick. Arizona's recent winning streak has pushed them out of lottery contention, while Ottawa's freefall has them in prime position for a top-three selection.
Player Discipline & Injuries
Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas received a five-game suspension from the NHL Department of Player Safety for a knee-on-knee hit that ended Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews' season. The hit, which occurred during Thursday's game in Anaheim, left Matthews with a significant lower-body injury that will sideline the league's leading scorer for the remainder of the regular season. Gudas forfeits $162,500 in salary, with the money going to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund. The suspension marks Gudas' fourth career ban, highlighting his history of dangerous plays.
Contract Moves
The San Jose Sharks secured Ty Dellandrea with a two-year, $3.25 million extension, locking up the 24-year-old forward through the 2025-26 season. Dellandrea, acquired in the Chris Tierney trade last summer, has emerged as a key middle-six forward for San Jose, posting 12 goals and 19 assists in 62 games this season. The deal carries an annual average value of $1.625 million, representing a slight raise from his current $1.525 million cap hit. The extension provides the Sharks with cost certainty for a player who's shown steady improvement since being drafted 13th overall by Dallas in 2018.