Injuries are piling up for several NHL teams as the playoffs approach. Carolina Hurricanes forward Jordan Staal sat out for a second consecutive game due to a lower-body injury, raising concerns about his availability in the postseason. Teammate Andrei Svechnikov left the last match early, though coach Rod Brind'Amour indicated the injury isn't serious. Meanwhile, Hurricanes' William Carrier is on the mend, having skated in a no-contact jersey for two days.

Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk has recently resumed skating, but uncertainty remains regarding his readiness. The New Jersey Devils are also monitoring Dougie Hamilton's progress, as he recovers from knee surgery, with expectations that he may be back by the second round. In New York, Rangers forward Matt Rempe participated in the morning skate after an upper-body injury, while David Kampf and Jake McCabe exited their previous game with injuries. The Pittsburgh Penguins are dealing with Evgeni Malkin, who is traveling with the team but has missed the last three games due to an upper-body injury.

Four NHL games are set for Monday night, highlighted by the Minnesota Wild facing off against the New Jersey Devils. The Devils, fresh off a 5-2 victory in their previous matchup, appear ready to maintain momentum, especially as they’ve won three consecutive meetings against the Wild. Nico Hischier’s impressive form, including his second hat trick of the season, will be a key focus. Meanwhile, the Predators and Flyers meet in a game lacking playoff implications, but the Flyers, under interim coach Brad Shaw, have shown promise with back-to-back wins. The Flames are vying for a playoff spot against the Central Division’s Avalanche, while the Dallas Stars, aiming for the top of the division, take on the already-eliminated Kraken.

The Minnesota Wild faced off against the New Jersey Devils, falling 5-2 despite a valiant effort to recover from an early deficit. Nico Hischier dominated, netting a hat trick, while Jacob Markstrom secured 22 saves for the Devils. The Wild's scoring came from Marcus Foligno and Ryan Hartman, but they struggled to convert on power plays, particularly in crucial moments. Filip Gustavsson made 28 saves but couldn't hold off the Devils' aggressive offensive play. The loss marks Minnesota's third in four games as they prepare for an upcoming road trip.

Recent injury updates in the NHL highlight the uncertain status of key players across various teams. Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jacob Trouba left a game due to a lower-body injury, raising concerns for the Ducks' defensive lineup. Meanwhile, Calgary Flames forward Connor Zary has avoided a serious leg injury, providing some relief for the Flames as they assess his condition. Carolina Hurricanes' Andrei Svechnikov made a timely return from an upper-body injury, eager to shake off rust after missing several games. Coach Rod Brind’Amour noted that William Carrier continues to be sidelined, missing over 30 games with a lower-body issue. Additionally, the New Jersey Devils are watching Luke Hughes closely, who is day-to-day with an unspecified injury.

In other notable news, the Columbus Blue Jackets activated Cole Sillinger from IR, while the Edmonton Oilers face a potential setback with goaltender Stuart Skinner expected to miss time due to a head injury. Star forwards Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid are also out, testing the Oilers' depth. The Vancouver Canucks seem to be on the verge of parting ways with Brock Boeser, indicating potential changes as they look to rebuild. The Chicago Blackhawks provided an update on Alec Martinez, whose progress is steady but he remains unavailable due to an earlier injury. As teams navigate these injury challenges, the next games will be critical for many rosters.

Saturday's NHL slate features 11 games, with playoff races heating up and several teams clinging to their postseason hopes. The Buffalo Sabres and Philadelphia Flyers kick off the day, both facing more potential lottery picks than playoff runs. The New York Islanders visit the Tampa Bay Lightning in a critical clash for the final wild card spot, while the St. Louis Blues and Colorado Avalanche, both in good form, battle for playoff positioning.

The New Jersey Devils and Minnesota Wild also find themselves in precarious situations, needing wins as they battle for crucial playoff positions. Meanwhile, the Vegas Golden Knights look to secure their division title against the Nashville Predators, who are struggling. Original 6 rivals, the Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings, aim to stay in contention, while the Calgary Flames face the Edmonton Oilers in the last Battle of Alberta of the regular season. Lastly, the New York Rangers vie for the wild card against the San Jose Sharks, and the Dallas Stars look to regain their top seed against the Seattle Kraken.