If you’re looking for the latest NHL News, Monday, March 16, 2026, is serving up a massive slate of storylines. From milestone assists and standings shakeups to highly anticipated homecomings and international hockey announcements, the push to the Stanley Cup Playoffs is officially in high gear.
Here is everything you need to know about the current state of the league, along with a full recap of the NHL scores from yesterday.
March 16 NHL News: Malkin Returns, Panarin’s MSG Homecoming, and 2028 World Cup
McDavid Chasing History: Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid continues his blistering pace. Following a three-assist performance against the Predators, McDavid surpassed Bobby Orr and tied Bryan Trottier for ninth place on the NHL’s all-time three-assist games list. He is now rapidly approaching his 800th career assist, on track to become the third-fastest player in NHL history to reach the milestone (behind only Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux).
Ducks Fly to First: The Anaheim Ducks have officially taken over first place in the Pacific Division, leapfrogging the Vegas Golden Knights. Young stars Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier led the charge in a thrilling 4-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens, marking Anaheim’s league-leading 21st comeback win of the season.
Big Returns on the Ice: Tonight’s slate features some massive returns. Evgeni Malkin returns from his five-game suspension, and Sidney Crosby might also return from an Olympic injury, as the Pittsburgh Penguins take on Nathan MacKinnon and the league-leading Colorado Avalanche. Meanwhile, Artemi Panarin will make his highly anticipated return to Madison Square Garden to face the Rangers for the first time since being traded to the Los Angeles Kings in February.
International Hockey Returns: Off the ice, the NHL GM meetings in Palm Beach, Florida, are making headlines. Today, the NHL is expected to officially announce the return of the World Cup of Hockey, a best-on-best tournament scheduled for February 2028.
NHL Scores and Game Notes from March 15, 2026
Yesterday delivered six fantastic matchups. The Maple Leafs held off the Wild thanks to Benoit-Olivier Groulx’s first multi-goal game, while the Kraken cruised past the Panthers behind a three-point night from Kaapo Kakko.
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