Faceoff is scheduled for 9:00 PM ET (7:00 PM MT local)
Venue: Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah (home of the Mammoth; capacity ~18,000+ with recent renovations for dual-sport use)
Broadcast: ESPN+ (U.S.); FDSNSO, Utah16 (local/regional); available via NHL streams internationally.

This late-season Central Division matchup is a critical playoff-push game for both clubs. The visiting Predators sit on the Western Conference bubble and need points to keep their postseason hopes alive, while the host Mammoth are firmly in the mix and riding offensive momentum as they aim to lock in home-ice positioning. Nashville has been streaky on the road, but Utah has been one of the hotter teams at Delta Center lately.

Recent Team Forms (Last 5–10 Games)

Predators (mixed but 6-3-1 in recent stretches; W1 streak):
They have shown offensive flashes but defensive inconsistencies on the road have hurt them. Recent results include competitive losses and occasional blowouts; they enter needing a strong effort to stay in the playoff picture.

Mammoth (hot streak with 19 goals in last 3 games; W4 or strong recent run):
Utah has been scoring freely and playing with confidence at home. They have dominated several recent outings offensively while maintaining solid structure, making them dangerous against bubble teams.

Injury Report

Predators (key defensive concern):

Nicolas Hague (D) – Day-to-day (upper body; missed recent games including Apr 6 vs. Kings)

Mammoth (forward depth tested):

Jack McBain (C) – Out until at least Apr 16 (lower body)

Barrett Hayton (C) – Out until at least Apr 16 (upper body)

Mackenzie Weegar (D) – Day-to-day (upper body; status uncertain but some indications he could return)

Nashville is relatively healthy otherwise but thin on the blue line without Hague. Utah is missing two key centers, forcing younger or depth players into bigger roles up front.

2

Key Player Matchups

Top-Line Forwards: Filip Forsberg & Steven Stamkos (NSH – Stamkos has been a veteran leader with recent multi-point games) vs. Clayton Keller & Logan Cooley (UTA – Keller remains the offensive catalyst).

Dynamic Centers/Secondary: Ryan O’Reilly / Gustav Nyquist (NSH) vs. Nick Schmaltz or emerging contributors (UTA).

Goaltending: Likely Juuse Saros (NSH, steady but facing heavy workloads) vs. Karel Vejmelka or primary starter (UTA, strong at home).

Defense/Secondary: Predators will lean on Roman Josi for offense and physicality; Mammoth’s blueline (even if Weegar is limited) can exploit any gaps with speed. Expect special teams and net-front battles to decide the game.

Series History

2025-26 Season: Utah leads 2-1 (including a dominant 5-2 home win for Nashville on Jan 24 and a 4-3 Preds victory on Dec 29).

All-Time: Predators hold a slight historical edge (3-2-1 or 3-3 overall), but the Mammoth have owned the most recent meetings and perform well at home against Nashville.

Betting Trends

Mammoth are strong as home favorites with recent offensive outbursts. Predators are competitive as road dogs but 1-2 in the season series. Overs have hit in several recent Mammoth games due to high-scoring outputs; Nashville performs decently ATS but struggles to contain fast teams at Delta Center.

Game Odds

Nashville Predators        6.5

Utah Mammoth               – 162

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Faceoff is scheduled for 9:00 PM ET
Venue: Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado (home of the Avalanche; capacity ~18,000)
Broadcast: ESPN+ (U.S.); ALT, KTVD, KUSA (regional).

This late-season Western Conference matchup is a pure mismatch: the visiting Flames are mathematically eliminated from playoff contention and playing out the string on the road, while the host Avalanche have already clinched the Central Division and the top seed in the Western Conference. Colorado enters as one of the league’s most dominant teams and will look to tune up for the postseason against a depleted Calgary side that has struggled mightily away from home.

Recent Team Forms (Last 5–10 Games)

Flames (roughly 4-6-0 in last 10; 1-3-1 in last 5 – eliminated and inconsistent):

Apr 7/8: L 4-3 (OT) @ Dallas Stars

Apr 4: W 5-3 @ Anaheim Ducks

Apr 2: L 6-3 @ Vegas Golden Knights

Mar 30: L 9-2 @ Colorado Avalanche

Mar 28: W 7-3 vs. Vancouver Canucks
Calgary has shown occasional offensive flashes but has been outscored badly on the road and against top teams.

Avalanche (8-2-0 in last 10; 4-1-0 in last 5 – dominant and locked in):

Apr 7: W 3-1 @ St. Louis Blues (clinched division/top seed)

Apr 5: L 3-2 vs. St. Louis Blues

Apr 4: W 2-0 @ Dallas Stars

Apr 1: L 8-6 vs. Vancouver Canucks

Mar 30: W 9-2 vs. Calgary Flames
Colorado has earned points in 8 of its last 11 and boasts the league’s top offense while resting key pieces as needed.

Injury Report

Flames (multiple long-term absences; depth thin):

Kevin Bahl (D) – Day-to-day (lower body; did not return Apr 7 vs. DAL)

Joel Hanley (D) – Out (undisclosed)

Samuel Honzek (LW) – Out for season (upper body)

Jonathan Huberdeau (LW) – Out for season (hip)

Cullen Potter (LW) – Out (undisclosed)

Avalanche (key blueline concern but otherwise healthy):

Cale Makar (D) – Day-to-day / expected to miss a few more games (upper body; injured Mar 30 vs. CGY, not believed long-term but being rested ahead of playoffs)

The Flames are skating with a skeleton crew on defense and up front; Colorado is resting Makar as a precaution but remains stacked elsewhere.

Key Player Matchups

Elite Forwards: Nathan MacKinnon (~league-leading production) & Mikko Rantanen / Valeri Nichushkin (recent multi-goal games) vs. Nazem Kadri / Ryan Strome / Morgan Frost (Flames’ top contributors). MacKinnon and company have feasted on Calgary’s defense.

Dynamic Wingers: Jonathan Huberdeau (if somehow available, but out) or Matvei Gridin / Brennan Othmann (CGY) vs. Artturi Lehkonen / Martin Necas (COL).

Goaltending: Likely Dustin Wolf or Dan Vladar (CGY) vs. Scott Wedgewood or primary starter (COL, strong in recent shutout wins).

Defense/Secondary: Avalanche will exploit Calgary’s thinned blue line (without Bahl) with speed and forecheck; Flames lean on physical play but lack the depth to match Colorado’s pace. Special teams heavily favor the Avs.

Series History

2025-26 Season: Avalanche lead 2-0 (including a dominant 9-2 home win on Mar 30).

All-Time: Colorado has owned recent meetings (6-0-1 in the last several seasons vs. CGY). The Avs are 8-2 SU in their last 10 against Calgary overall.

Betting Trends

Avalanche are 8-2 in last 10 and dominate as home favorites vs. non-playoff teams. Flames are 1-4-1 ATS on the road lately and have been blown out in recent meetings with Colorado. Overs have cashed in several Avs home games due to their league-leading scoring.

Game Odds

Calgary Flames                 6.5

Colorado Avalanche       – 340

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Faceoff is scheduled for 9:00 PM ET (8:00 PM CT)
Venue: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas (home of the Stars; capacity ~18,500)
Broadcast: ESPN+ / Hulu (U.S.); available via NHL streams internationally.

This Central Division showdown pits two locked-in playoff teams with nearly identical records but contrasting momentum. The visiting Wild arrive on a four-game win streak and riding high-scoring form, while the host Stars are playing for home-ice advantage in the division and enter with a depleted forward group due to multiple key injuries.

Recent Team Forms (Last 5–10 Games)

Wild (7-3-0 in last 10; 4-0-0 in last 4 – surging):

Apr 7: W 5-2 vs. Seattle Kraken

Apr 5: W 5-4 @ Detroit Red Wings

Apr 4: W 4-1 @ Ottawa Senators

Apr 2: W 5-2 vs. Vancouver Canucks

Mar 28/earlier: Strong stretch with consistent offense and timely goaltending.

Stars (5-5-0 in last 10; 2-3-0 in last 5 – streaky):

Apr 7: W 4-3 (OT) vs. Calgary Flames

Apr 4: L 0-2 vs. Colorado Avalanche

Apr 2: W 3-0 vs. Winnipeg Jets

Mar 31: L 3-6 @ Boston Bruins

Mar 29: L 1-2 @ Philadelphia Flyers
They have shown defensive solidity in wins but have been inconsistent offensively of late.

Injury Report

Wild (minimal impact):

Zach Bogosian (D) – Day-to-day (lower body/undisclosed)

Charlie Stramel (C) – Out (long-term/ankle)

Stars (significant forward depth losses):

Tyler Seguin (C) – Out for season (torn ACL)

Radek Faksa (C) – IR (lower body; out until at least Apr 9)

Michael Bunting (LW) – Out until at least Apr 11 (lower body)

Sam Steel (C) – Out until at least Apr 15 (hip)

Roope Hintz (C) – Out until at least Apr 15

Nathan Bastian (RW) – Out until May 4 (hand)

Dallas is especially thin up front, forcing heavier minutes for stars like Jason Robertson and Wyatt Johnston.

Key Player Matchups

Elite Wingers: Kirill Kaprizov (MIN, recent multi-point games) & Matt Boldy vs. Jason Robertson (DAL) & Wyatt Johnston (hot streak, OT winner Apr 7). Kaprizov has been a difference-maker in the Wild’s win streak.

Center/Secondary Battle: Joel Eriksson Ek (MIN, three-point night Apr 7) vs. Jamie Benn / limited depth options for Dallas.

Goaltending: Filip Gustavsson or Jesper Wallstedt (MIN, strong in recent wins) vs. Jake Oettinger (DAL, .910+ SV% in key spots). Oettinger has historically performed well at home.

Defense/Secondary: Wild’s physical blue line (even without Bogosian) vs. Stars’ Miro Heiskanen-led group; special teams and net-front presence will be critical given Dallas’ injuries.

Series History

2025-26 Season: Competitive split (exact results show Wild and Stars each winning key matchups; Dallas holds a slight edge in most recent head-to-heads).

All-Time: Stars have the historical advantage, but the Wild have been competitive in recent seasons, including strong road performances against Dallas.

Betting Trends

Wild are 4-0 SU and strong ATS on their current streak; Stars are 4-1 ATS in last 5 but have struggled with forward injuries. Overs have hit in several Wild road games, but Stars’ home defensive structure (and depleted Stars attack) points to a lower-scoring contest. Wild perform well as slight road dogs in divisional games.

Game Odds

Minnesota Wild               6.5

Dallas Stars                         – 125

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Faceoff is scheduled for 8:30 PM ET
Venue: United Center, Chicago, Illinois (home of the Blackhawks; capacity ~19,700)
Broadcast: ESPN+ (U.S.); FanDuel Sports Network South / FDSSO, CHSN (regional).

This late-season interconference matchup features a dominant, playoff-locked Hurricanes team wrapping up the regular season on a four-game road trip against a rebuilding Blackhawks squad that has already been eliminated from postseason contention. Carolina enters as one of the NHL’s hottest and most complete clubs, while Chicago is playing out the string at home with a young roster and significant defensive injuries.

Recent Team Forms (Last 5–10 Games)

Hurricanes (8-2-0 in last 10; elite offense and structure):

Apr 7: W 6-5 (OT) vs. Boston Bruins

Apr 5: L 6-3 @ Ottawa Senators

Apr 4: W 4-3 vs. New York Islanders

Apr 2: W 5-1 vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
They are rolling with a high-scoring attack and strong special teams, outscoring opponents significantly in recent wins.

Blackhawks (1-4-0 in last 5; inconsistent and leaky defense):

Apr ~7/8: L 2-3 vs. San Jose Sharks

Apr 5/4: W 4-2 @ Seattle Kraken

Apr 3/2: L 1-3 @ Edmonton Oilers

Apr 1: L 3-4 (OT) vs. Winnipeg Jets

Mar 29: L 3-5 @ New Jersey Devils
Chicago has shown occasional offensive flashes but has struggled mightily at home and against stronger teams.

Injury Report

Hurricanes (resting some vets; goaltending depth tested):

Pyotr Kochetkov (G) – Out (hip surgery; out since December, est. return Apr 11)

Jalen Chatfield (D) – Day-to-day / lower body (left Apr 7 game)

Multiple veterans expected to be rested; call-ups including Skyler Brind’Amour, Charles Alexis Legault, Bradly Nadeau, and Josiah Slavin are in the lineup.

Blackhawks (significant defensive absences):

Artyom Levshunov (D) – Out for season (hand)

Matt Grzelcyk (D) – Out for season (upper body)

Oliver Moore (C) – Out (lower body; est. return ~Apr 15)

Shea Weber (D) – Long-term IR (ankle)
Chicago’s blueline is especially thin, forcing heavy minutes on remaining young defensemen.

Key Player Matchups

Top-Line Forwards: Sebastian Aho (79P) & Andrei Svechnikov (69P) vs. Frank Nazar (recently hot with 1G/1A in last outing) & Tyler Bertuzzi (~32G). Carolina’s stars have been dominant.

Dynamic Young Talent: Seth Jarvis / Martin Necas (CAR) vs. Connor Bedard (CHI – if active) or Nick Lardis.

Goaltending: Likely Frederik Andersen or Brandon Bussi (CAR) vs. Spencer Knight (CHI – 4-1-0 career vs. CAR with strong .943 SV%). Knight has historically performed well against Carolina.

Secondary/Defense: Hurricanes will exploit Chicago’s depleted D corps with speed and forecheck; Blackhawks lean on Ryan Donato (points in recent games vs. CAR) for secondary scoring.

Series History

2025-26 Season: Split so far – Chicago won the lone prior meeting 4-3 in a shootout on Jan. 22 at Carolina’s home (Lenovo Center).

All-Time: Carolina has dominated recently (8-0-2 in last 10 meetings overall). Blackhawks have earned points in 2 of the last 3 vs. CAR (1-1-1).

Betting Trends

Hurricanes are strong on the road and in mismatch spots; Blackhawks are 1-4 in last 5 and poor as home underdogs (19-67 in last 86 as +200 or greater dogs). Overs have hit in several recent Blackhawks games due to defensive issues. Carolina covers well against rebuilding teams.

Game Odds

Carolina Hurricanes        – 230

Chicago Blackhawks       6.5

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Faceoff is scheduled for 8:00 PM EDT (7:00 PM CT local)
Venue: Enterprise Center, St. Louis, Missouri (home of the Blues; capacity ~18,000)
Broadcast: ESPN+ (U.S.); FDSMW, TSN3 (regional/Canada); available via NHL streams internationally.

This late-season Central Division matchup features two bubble teams fighting for Western Conference wild-card positioning. The visiting Jets are riding a strong recent surge and offensive momentum, while the host Blues have been streaky at home but enter with defensive questions and a need to protect their slim playoff hopes in front of a passionate Enterprise Center crowd.

Recent Team Forms (Last 5–10 Games)

Jets (6-3-1 in last 10; 4-1-0 in last 5 – strong push):

Apr 6: W 6-2 vs. Seattle Kraken (Connor 2G; 3 PP goals)

Apr 4: W 2-1 @ Columbus Blue Jackets

Apr 2: L 0-3 @ Dallas Stars

Mar 31: W 4-3 @ Chicago Blackhawks

Mar 28: W 4-2 @ Colorado Avalanche
Winnipeg has scored freely of late (averaging ~4+ goals) and is 2-0-0 in its most recent road games while battling for a postseason spot.

Blues (6-2-2 in last 10; mixed 3-2-0 in last 5):

Apr 7: L 1-3 vs. Colorado Avalanche

Apr 5: W 3-2 @ Colorado Avalanche

Apr 3: W 6-2 @ Anaheim Ducks

Apr 1: L 1-2 (OT) @ Los Angeles Kings

Recent: Strong road wins mixed with home defensive lapses.
St. Louis has shown offensive bursts but has been outscored in several recent contests.

Injury Report

Jets (depth tested on defense and bottom-six):

Gustav Nyquist (RW) – Day-to-day (undisclosed; practiced non-contact, possible return tonight)

Morgan Barron (C) – Out until at least Apr 18 (lower body; week-to-week)

Elias Salomonsson (D) – Out until at least Apr 13 (concussion)

Colin Miller (D) – IR until at least Apr 16 (knee)

Blues (minimal major updates; blueline depth mostly intact):

Tyler Tucker (D) – Week-to-week (lower body; older update from March, status uncertain but no new confirmation of absence)
No other significant long-term absences reported recently; St. Louis appears relatively healthy compared to Winnipeg’s defensive holes.

Key Player Matchups

Elite Wingers/Scoring: Kyle Connor (WPG, ~2 goals in Apr 6 win; season-long threat) & Gabriel Vilardi vs. Robert Thomas (STL, leading scorer ~57 points) & Jordan Kyrou. Connor has been dominant lately.

Veteran/Secondary Centers: Jonathan Toews (WPG, contributing in recent games) vs. Brayden Schenn (STL, veteran leadership).

Goaltending: Likely Connor Hellebuyck (WPG) vs. Joel Hofer or Jordan Binnington (STL). Hofer has been solid in recent starts but faced heavy workloads.

Defense/Secondary: Jets will lean on their top pair amid injuries; Blues’ physical play (e.g., Alexey Toropchenko) could exploit Winnipeg’s thinned blue line. Special teams expected to be pivotal.

Series History

2025-26 Season: Jets lead 2-1 (Mar 15: WPG 3-2 STL @ WPG; Jan 20: WPG 3-1 STL @ WPG; Dec 17: STL 1-0 WPG @ STL). Winnipeg has won the last two meetings convincingly.

All-Time: Competitive, but Jets have owned the most recent head-to-heads (9-5 SU since 2025 in some samples).

Game Odds

Winnipeg Jets                   5.5

St. Louis Blues                   – 115

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Faceoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET
Venue: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey (home of the Devils; capacity ~16,500)
Broadcast: ESPN+ (U.S.); SN-PIT, MSGSN (local/regional); available via NHL streams internationally.

This late-season Metropolitan Division matchup features a surging Penguins team still battling for optimal playoff positioning against an eliminated Devils squad that has been inconsistent and decimated by injuries. Pittsburgh arrives riding offensive momentum from a dominant weekend sweep of the Panthers, while New Jersey is playing out the string at home after being mathematically eliminated earlier in the week.

Recent Team Forms (Last 5–10 Games)

Penguins (strong 4-1-0 or better in recent stretch; offense exploding):

Apr 5: W 5-2 vs. Florida Panthers (Rakell 2G, Crosby 1G/2A)

Apr 4: W 9-4 vs. Florida Panthers (Malkin hat trick +1A, Karlsson 4P)

Apr 2: L 3-6 @ Tampa Bay Lightning

Earlier games: 3-1-0 in the four prior to the TBL loss, with high-scoring outputs. They have won four of their last five and are averaging over 5 goals per game lately.

Devils (mixed 2-3-0 in last 5; eliminated after recent home loss):

Apr 7: L 1-5 vs. Philadelphia Flyers

Apr 5: W 3-0 @ Montreal Canadiens (Markstrom shutout)

Apr 4: L 3-4 (SO) vs. Montreal Canadiens

Apr 2: W 7-3 vs. Washington Capitals
They have been eliminated and are 2-3-0 in their last five, with defensive lapses and goaltending variance showing in losses.

Injury Report

Penguins (goaltending and depth tested):

Stuart Skinner (G) – Day-to-day (eye; recent update: feels good, vision improved – possible to start)

Caleb Jones (D) – Out for season (shoulder)

Blake Lizotte (C) – Out (upper body; reevaluated in ~4 weeks)

Filip Hallander (C) – IR (long-term)

Peyton Kettles (D) – Out (long-term)

Devils (multiple season-ending absences; forward group thinned):

Arseny Gritsyuk (RW) – Out for season (upper body; surgery)

Stefan Noesen (RW) – Out for season (knee)

Zack MacEwen (RW) – Out for season (ACL)

Brett Pesce (D) – Out (lower body)

Penguins are healthier overall up front; Devils are missing key depth pieces on both sides of the puck.

Key Player Matchups

Elite Centers: Sidney Crosby (PIT, ~72 points, ongoing point-per-game streak) & Evgeni Malkin (recent hot streak, hat trick vs. FLA) vs. Jack Hughes (NJD, ~72 points) & Nico Hischier. Crosby and Malkin have dominated recent games; Hughes remains New Jersey’s primary threat.

Wing/Secondary Scoring: Rickard Rakell & Bryan Rust (PIT, both streaking) vs. Jesper Bratt & Timo Meier (NJD). Penguins’ depth has produced heavily lately.

Goaltending: Likely Stuart Skinner (or backup) for Pittsburgh vs. Jacob Markstrom (NJD, strong shutout Apr 5 but allowed 5 vs. PHI).

Defense/Secondary: Penguins lean on Erik Karlsson (~64 points, playmaking) and Ryan Shea; Devils will counter with Johnathan Kovacevic and Dougie Hamilton but miss Pesce’s stability. Expect special teams to play a big role.

Series History

2025-26 Season: Penguins lead the season series (specific results include 4-1 wins in late January/February meetings; Devils took one in shootout on Nov 8). Pittsburgh has won the majority of recent encounters.

All-Time: Nearly even (~119-118-17-13 in Penguins’ favor historically), but Pittsburgh has owned the most recent matchups.

Betting Trends

Penguins are 4-1-0 SU lately with high-scoring games (overs hitting frequently). Devils are 2-3-0 in last five and have struggled ATS as home underdogs. Pittsburgh performs well on the road in playoff-push spots; New Jersey’s elimination has led to inconsistent efforts. Overs have cashed in several Penguins games due to offensive firepower.

Game Odds

Pittsburgh Penguins       – 112

New Jersey Devils            6.5

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Faceoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET
Venue: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan (home of the Red Wings; capacity ~20,000)
Broadcast: ESPN+ (U.S.); FDSNDET, NBCSP+ (local/regional); available via NHL streams internationally.

This late-season Eastern Conference matchup pits two playoff-contending clubs in very different forms. The visiting Flyers are riding a three-game win streak and battling for Metropolitan Division positioning, while the host Red Wings have dropped three of their last four and are clinging to wild-card hopes amid defensive inconsistencies and injury concerns.

Recent Team Forms (Last 5–10 Games)

Flyers (7-3-0 in last 10; 3-0-0 in last 3 – riding momentum):

Apr 7: W 5-1 @ New Jersey Devils (Zegras 2G, 1A)

Apr 5: W 2-1 (OT) vs. Boston Bruins (Martone GWG)

Apr 3: W 4-1 @ New York Islanders (Michkov 1G, 2A)

Apr 2: L 2-4 vs. Detroit Red Wings

Mar 31/earlier: Strong stretch overall with high-scoring outputs and timely goaltending.

Red Wings (roughly 3-6-1 or worse in last 10; 1-3-0 in last 4 – sliding at the wrong time):

Apr 7: L vs. Columbus Blue Jackets

Apr 5: L 4-5 vs. Minnesota Wild

Apr 4: L 1-4 @ New York Rangers

Apr 2: W 4-2 @ Philadelphia Flyers

Earlier: Offensive flashes but defensive lapses and poor special-teams play have hurt them.

Injury Report

Flyers (depth tested up front):

Nikita Grebenkin (RW) – Out until at least Apr 11 (upper body)

Rodrigo Abols (C) – IR until at least Apr 14 (ankle)

Ty Murchison (D) – Out (long-term)

Red Wings (forward and depth issues):

Mason Appleton (C) – Out until at least Apr 11 (upper body)

Justin Faulk (D) – Questionable / recently missed games (upper/lower body from prior)

Both sides are thin, but the Flyers’ recent returns (e.g., Tyson Foerster) have fueled their surge, while Detroit’s absences have exposed vulnerabilities.

Key Player Matchups

Dynamic Forwards: Trevor Zegras & Matvei Michkov (PHI – combining for multiple points lately, Zegras especially hot) vs. Alex DeBrincat & Patrick Kane (DET – Kane with multi-point games in recent meetings).

Scoring Threats: Travis Konecny / Tyson Foerster (PHI) vs. Lucas Raymond (DET, consistent producer).

Goaltending: Likely Samuel Ersson or equivalent (PHI, strong in wins) vs. John Gibson (DET, 32+ saves in Apr 2 win). Gibson has been steady but faces a Flyers offense averaging high shots.

Defense/Secondary: Flyers’ blue line has been physical; Red Wings lean on Moritz Seider but miss depth with injuries. Expect heavy emphasis on special teams and net-front battles.

Series History

2025-26 Season: Split 1-1 so far (Mar 28: PHI 5-3 @ DET; Apr 2: DET 4-2 @ PHI). Detroit won the most recent meeting convincingly with Kane (3 points) and DeBrincat (2G).

All-Time: Flyers hold a slight historical edge, but this season’s games have been competitive and high-event.

Betting Trends

Flyers are 3-0-0 SU and strong ATS lately; Red Wings are 1-3-0 in last 4 and struggling ATS at home vs. hot teams. Overs have hit in several recent meetings and Detroit home games due to offensive talent on both sides. Flyers perform well as road underdogs in playoff-push scenarios.

Game Odds

Philadelphia Flyers         6.5

Detroit Red Wings           – 125

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Faceoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET
Venue: Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, Ontario (home of the Senators; capacity ~18,000)
Broadcast: ESPN+ (U.S.); TSN5, RDS2, SCRIPPS (Canada/international streams available).

This late-season Atlantic Division matchup pits a decimated, eliminated Panthers squad against a playoff-hopeful Senators team riding momentum at home. Florida is playing out the string with a massive injury list and a brutal road losing streak, while Ottawa has surged into the Eastern wild-card conversation and will look to clinch playoff positioning against a depleted visitor.

Recent Team Forms (Last 5–10 Games)

Panthers (3-6-1 in last 10; 0-6 on the current road trip):

Apr 7: L 4-3 (SO) @ Montréal Canadiens

Apr 5: L 5-2 @ Pittsburgh Penguins

Apr 4: L 9-4 @ Pittsburgh Penguins

Apr 2: W 2-1 vs. Boston Bruins

Mar 31: W 6-3 vs. Ottawa Senators
Offense has dried up without their core stars, and the road woes have been especially glaring.

Senators (strong 13-5-2 in last 20; 4-1-0 in last 5):

Apr 7: W 6-2 vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

Apr 5: W 6-3 vs. Carolina Hurricanes

Apr 4: L 4-1 vs. Minnesota Wild

Apr 2: W 4-1 vs. Buffalo Sabres

Mar 31: L 6-3 @ Florida Panthers
Ottawa has scored freely at home and is playing with urgency as the postseason nears.

Injury Report

Panthers (catastrophic long-term absences; season essentially over for many):

Aleksander Barkov (C) – Out for season (knee; missed 77+ games)

Aaron Ekblad (D) – Out for season (finger)

Sam Reinhart (C) – Out for season (foot)

Jonah Gadjovich (LW) – Out for season (upper body)

Brad Marchand (LW) – Out (lower body)

Matthew Tkachuk (RW) – Day-to-day / expected out until at least Apr 11 (personal)

Multiple others (Niko Mikkola, Anton Lundell, Evan Rodrigues, etc.) either out for season or long-term.

Senators (blueline decimated but forwards healthy):

Thomas Chabot (D) – Out (forearm; practicing non-contact, possible earlier return)

Tyler Kleven (D) – Out / week-to-week (upper body; until ~Apr 15)

Dennis Gilbert (D) – Day-to-day (upper body)

Nick Jensen (D) – Out (lower body / IR)

Carter Yakemchuk (D) – Out (concussion)

Florida is skating with a skeleton crew; Ottawa’s defensive depth is tested but their top forwards remain available.

Key Player Matchups

Star Wingers: Matthew Tkachuk (FLA, if he plays) vs. Brady Tkachuk (OTT) – brother vs. brother in what could be an emotional, physical battle. Brady has been a point-per-game force lately.

Top-Line Centers: Limited options for Florida (perhaps Anton Lundell if available or call-ups) vs. Tim Stützle (OTT, dynamic playmaker).

Goaltending: Sergei Bobrovsky or Spencer Knight (FLA) vs. Linus Ullmark (OTT). Ullmark has been excellent in recent home wins.

Secondary/Defense: Senators’ Jake Sanderson (recently returned) and Drake Batherson can exploit Florida’s thin blue line and depleted forward depth. Panthers will lean on Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Bennett (if healthy) for any offense.

Series History

2025-26 Season: Panthers have dominated early, winning the first three meetings (including a 6-3 home victory on Mar 31). Ottawa is 0-3-0 in the season series and will be motivated to avoid the sweep.

All-Time: Roughly even historically, but Florida has owned the recent matchups (9-2 SU in last 11).

Betting Trends

Senators are 4-1 in last 5 and strong ATS at home. Panthers are 0-6 on the road lately and 2-6-1 SU in last 9 overall. Ottawa has covered well as favorites against struggling divisional foes; overs have hit in several recent Senators home games due to high-scoring outputs.

Game Odds

Florida Panthers               6.5

Ottawa Senators              – 285

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Faceoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM EDT
Venue: KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY
TV/Streaming: MSG-B (Sabres market), FDSNOH (Blue Jackets market), SN; available on ESPN+ in select areas. Pregame on MSG begins at 6:30 PM.

Team Records and Standings Context

Buffalo Sabres: 48-23-8 (104 points), leading the Atlantic Division and positioned strongly for a top Eastern Conference seed. They boast one of the league’s most potent offenses with 3.42 goals per game (7th) and a solid 2.99 goals-against average (12th). Home record: 25-10-4.

Columbus Blue Jackets: 39-27-12 (90 points), 4th in the Metropolitan Division and battling for an Eastern Conference wild-card spot (currently two points back of Ottawa). They sit at 3.05 goals for and 3.06 against per game. Road record: 19-16-4.

Both teams are in the final week of the regular season. Buffalo seeks to lock in home-ice advantage and regain momentum after a solid but inconsistent stretch. Columbus remains desperate for points in a tight wild-card race.

Recent Team Forms (Last 10 Games)

Sabres: 5-3-2. They earned a gritty 5-3 comeback win over the Rangers on Wednesday (April 8), outshooting New York 8-1 in the third period with goals from Alex Tuch, Jason Zucker, and Zach Benson. Buffalo has shown resilience in trailing-after-two scenarios (fourth such win this season) but has had recent puck-management issues.

Blue Jackets: 3-6-1. They snapped a six-game skid with a dramatic shootout win over Detroit on Tuesday but have otherwise struggled offensively in recent weeks. They are 7-2 straight-up in their last nine April games overall.

Injury Report

Buffalo Sabres (updates expected after 5 PM media availability and warm-ups):

Alex Lyon: Day-to-day (lower-body tweak from Wednesday morning skate; availability uncertain).

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: Expected to rest after starting Wednesday.

Jiri Kulich: Out for the season (ear).

Sam Carrick: Out (arm).

Justin Danforth: Out (lower body).

Noah Ostlund: Day-to-day (upper body).

Jordan Greenway: Expected to return to the lineup.

If Lyon is unavailable, Colten Ellis is the likely starter (first start since early February).

Columbus Blue Jackets:

Brendan Smith: Out (knee surgery, long-term).

Mathieu Olivier: Out (upper body).

Dmitri Voronkov: Out (upper body/hand).

Damon Severson: Out for the season (shoulder).

Others scratched as needed (e.g., Zach Aston-Reese, Luca Del Bel Belluz in recent games).

Player Matchups and Key Players to Watch

Sabres Offense vs. Blue Jackets Defense: Buffalo’s depth is elite (13 players with 10+ goals, NHL high). Watch Zach Benson (career-high 12 goals, five in last 10 games, including a two-goal night Wednesday), Alex Tuch (net-front presence, tied game vs. Rangers), and Jason Zucker (team-high seven game-winners). Rasmus Dahlin (71 points) anchors the blue line. Ryan McLeod has been strong on faceoffs (52.9% over last 16 games).

Blue Jackets Counter: Zach Werenski leads with 80 points (22G, 58A) and has been on a tear (multi-point games, including a goal and assist Tuesday). Kirill Marchenko (26G, 39A, 65P) provides scoring punch. Columbus will rely on defensive structure and opportunistic counterattacks.

Goaltending: Buffalo’s starter is TBD but likely Ellis or Lyon (if healthy); the team has performed well in the second half of back-to-backs (8-1-3 this season). Columbus likely starts Jet Greaves (strong recent form) or Elvis Merzlikins.

Expect physical net-front battles and special-teams play to decide the game.

Series History (2025-26 Season)

Buffalo has not beaten Columbus this season (0-2-0). The Blue Jackets lead the season series:

October: Sabres lost 4-3 in OT at home.

January 3: Blue Jackets blew out Sabres 5-1 in Columbus (snapping Buffalo’s 10-game win streak).

All-time, the Sabres hold a slight historical edge, but this year’s matchups have favored Columbus.

Betting Trends

Columbus: 4-1 SU in last five meetings vs. Buffalo; 1-6 SU in last seven overall; UNDER in six of last nine games and six of last seven road games. However, they are 7-2 SU in last nine April contests.

Buffalo: OVER in six of last nine games; strong at home but 3-2 ATS in recent games.

Game Odds

Columbus Blue Jackets                  6.5

Buffalo Sabres                                   – 130

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Faceoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET
Venue: Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec (home of the Canadiens; capacity ~21,000)
Broadcast: ESPN+ (U.S.); RDS, TSN2, The Spot (Canada/international streams available).

This late-season Atlantic Division clash features two playoff-bound teams with identical 102-point totals but starkly different momentum. The visiting Lightning are coming off a back-to-back road trip and recent defensive lapses, while the surging home Canadiens have been one of the NHL’s hottest teams and will look to exploit any remaining Lightning injuries in front of a raucous Bell Centre crowd.

Team

Recent Team Forms (Last 10 Games)

Lightning (5-5-0 in last 10; offense potent but defense leaky on the road):

Apr 7: L 6-2 @ Ottawa Senators

Apr 6: L 4-2 @ Buffalo Sabres

Apr 4: W 3-1 vs. Boston Bruins

Apr 2: W 6-3 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

Mar 31: L 4-1 vs. Montréal Canadiens
They are 2-3-0 in their last 5, with goaltending and special teams showing vulnerability after a strong mid-season stretch.

Canadiens (9-1-0 in last 10; elite scoring and goaltending surge):

Apr 7: W 4-3 (SO) vs. Florida Panthers

Apr 5: L 3-0 vs. New Jersey Devils

Apr 4: W 4-3 (SO) @ New Jersey Devils

Apr 2: W 3-2 @ New York Rangers

Mar 31: W 4-1 @ Tampa Bay Lightning
Montreal has won 9 of 10, outscoring opponents by +14, with strong special teams and a red-hot Jakub Dobes in net.

Injury Report

Lightning (depth tested on the blue line and forward group):

Brandon Hagel (LW) – Day-to-day (lower body)

Anthony Cirelli (C) – Day-to-day (undisclosed)

Pontus Holmberg (RW) – Day-to-day / expected out until at least Apr 15 (upper body)

Victor Hedman (D) – Long-term IR (personal)

Max Crozier (D) – IR (abdomen)

Declan Carlile (D) – IR (lower body)

Canadiens (relatively healthy but key pieces still sidelined):

Joseph Veleno (C) – Day-to-day (illness)

Alexandre Carrier (D) – Out until at least Apr 14 (upper body)

Patrik Laine (RW) – Out / IR (abdomen)

Lightning are thinner up front and on defense heading into this matchup, which could force heavier minutes for stars like Kucherov and Guentzel.

Key Player Matchups

Elite Wingers: Nikita Kucherov (TBL, 43G/84A/127P) & Jake Guentzel (86P) vs. Cole Caufield (MTL, ~47G) & Juraj Slafkovsky (29G + playmaking). Kucherov remains the league’s top point producer, but Montreal’s young stars have dominated recent head-to-heads (Caufield and Slafkovsky combined for 4 points in the Mar 31 win).

Center Battle: Anthony Cirelli / Nick Paul (TBL) vs. Nick Suzuki / Phillip Danault (MTL). Suzuki anchors Montreal’s top line and penalty kill.

Goaltending: Andrei Vasilevskiy (TBL) vs. Jakub Dobes (MTL). Dobes has been stellar lately (6 straight wins, .973 SV% in recent sample), while Vasilevskiy has faced heavy workloads on the road.

Secondary/Defense: Montreal’s Ivan Demidov and Mike Matheson have generated offense against Tampa’s depleted blueline; Lightning will rely on Kucherov’s line to carry the load.

Series History

2025-26 Season: Lightning lead 2-1 (Dec 9: TBL 6-1 @ MTL; Dec 28: TBL 5-4 vs. MTL; Mar 31: MTL 4-1 @ TBL). Montreal has won the most recent meeting convincingly.

All-Time: Lightning hold a historical edge (~75-53-6-7 overall), but the Canadiens have owned the last matchup and are 1-1-0 at home vs. TBL this year.

Betting Trends

Canadiens are 9-1-0 straight up and strong ATS lately; Lightning are 5-5-0 in last 10 and 1-4 ATS in recent road games. Over has hit in several Lightning contests, but Montreal’s hot goaltending and Tampa’s injuries point to a lower-scoring, structured game. Canadiens have covered well as home underdogs/favorites against divisional foes.

Game Odds

Tampa Bay Lightning                      – 115

Montréal Canadiens                       6.5

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Wednesday, April 8, 2026