Puck drop is scheduled for 9:00 PM ET
Venue: Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, AB
TV: ESPN+ / Victory+ (DAL) / Sportsnet (CGY) | Radio: Local feeds / NHL App

Recent Form (Last 5-6 Games)

Stars (9-0-0 SU – franchise-record winning streak; 5-0-0 in last 5):

• Mar 2: W 6-1 @ VAN (Bichsel 2G, Robertson, Duchene, Blackwell; dominant road blowout)
• Feb 28: W 3-2 OT vs. NSH (Robertson GWG; erased 2-0 deficit)
• Feb 25/26 stretch: W 4-1 vs. SEA (Johnston 2G) and continued hot play post-Olympic break.

Dallas has scored 6+ in recent wins, with elite goaltending and depth stepping up massively.

Flames (1-3-1 or 2-3-1 in recent stretch; 1-2-1 in last 4):

• Mar 1: L 3-2 SO @ ANA (Farabee & Sharangovich goals; blown 3rd-period lead)
• Feb 28: L 2-0 @ LAK (shutout on the road)
• Feb 26: W 4-1 @ SJS (solid road win)
• Prior: Mixed results with defensive lapses and inconsistent scoring.

Calgary is 9-18-3 on the road and has lost 6 of last 8 overall.

Injury Report

Dallas Stars

• Roope Hintz (C): Day-to-Day (Illness) – Missed last 3 games; skated but uncertain for tonight (lean questionable; Arttu Hyry or others filling top-6 minutes).
• Mikko Rantanen (RW): Out (Lower Body – post-Olympics; expected return ~mid-to-late March).
• Radek Faksa (C): Out (Upper Body).
• Tyler Seguin (C): Out (ACL – LTIR, long-term).
  Depth forwards and blue-line rotation affected, but the streak continues without them.

Calgary Flames

• Jonathan Huberdeau (LW): Out for Season (Hip surgery).
• Samuel Honzek (LW): Out (Upper Body – surgery, remainder of season).
• Jake Bean (D): Out (Undisclosed).
• Possible others (e.g., Blake Coleman or depth scratches for roster management), but core forward group depleted of key scorers.

Flames are missing significant offensive production; Stars missing star centers but rolling with depth.

Key Player Matchups to Watch

• Goaltending: Jake Oettinger (DAL – elite .915+ SV%, hot streak) vs. Devin Cooley or backup (CGY – serviceable but shaky vs. high-volume offenses). Clear edge to Dallas.
• Top Lines: Jason Robertson / Wyatt Johnston / Matt Duchene (DAL – combining for heavy scoring during streak) vs. Yegor Sharangovich / Joel Farabee / Nazem Kadri (CGY – Flames’ best remaining threats). Dallas depth overwhelms Calgary’s depleted forward corps.
• Defense/Physicality: Stars’ Miro Heiskanen / Thomas Harley / Lian Bichsel (Bichsel heating up with 2G Monday) vs. Flames’ blueline (missing Bean). Dallas controls transition and forecheck; expect physical push from Calgary’s bottom-six.
• Special Teams: Both middle-of-pack, but Stars PP clicks at home/road lately; Flames PK vulnerable without depth.

Dallas holds massive edges in talent, depth, and form.

Series History

• 2025-26 Season: Flames lead 1-0 (Nov 22, 2025: CGY 3, DAL 2 in SO at Scotiabank Saddledome).
• Recent Trend: Stars have dominated long-term (strong all-time edge), but this season’s lone meeting went to Calgary in a tight, low-event game. Dallas is 6-3-1 in last 10 vs. CGY overall. On the road in Calgary, games trend tight/low-scoring.

Betting Trends

• Stars are 9-0 SU and strong ATS during streak (covering big on road blowouts).
• Dallas on back-to-backs (played Monday in VAN, travel to CGY) is historically solid but fatigue a minor factor.
• Flames are poor home underdogs vs. elite Western teams; 3-7 SU in last 10 home games.
• Games involving Dallas lately trend Over when hot, but vs. Flames historically Under 5.5-6.
• Stars 18-7-6 on road; Flames 9-18-3 at home.

Game Odds

Dallas Stars                         – 120

Calgary Flames                 5.5

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, March 2, 2026

Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET
Venue: Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH
TV: ESPN+ | Local: FanDuel Sports Network Ohio (FDSOH) / FanDuel Sports Network South (FDSSO) | Radio: Local feeds / NHL App

Recent Form (Last 5-6 Games)

Predators (roughly 1-3-1 or 2-3-1 stretch recently; 1-2-1 post-Olympic break entering Monday):

• Mar 2: L 4-2 vs. DET (home matinee; Forsberg & Marchessault scored, but collapsed in 2nd period)
• Feb 28: L 3-2 OT @ DAL
• Recent prior: Mixed results including a win vs. CHI, but overall slide with defensive lapses and goaltending under pressure. They are 1-1-1 immediately post-break before the DET loss.

Nashville is on a back-to-back (afternoon game Monday + travel to Columbus), which historically hurts road teams in the NHL.

Blue Jackets (3-2-0 or better in recent stretch; snapped 2-game skid Monday):

• Mar 2: W 5-4 OT @ NYR (blew 4-0 lead but Marchenko scored twice including OT winner; resilient comeback win)
• Feb 28: L 4-3 OT vs. NYI
• Prior: Strong wins mixed with tight losses; Elvis Merzlikins has been stellar in net during the stretch. Columbus plays with high energy at home and forces turnovers.

The Jackets enter with momentum from a gutsy road OT victory, while the Preds look fatigued.

Injury Report

Nashville Predators

• Adam Wilsby (D): Day-to-Day / Week-to-Week (lower body) – Missed Monday’s game; 45 GP, 1G-11A-12P. Significant depth loss on blue line; Justin Barron or others filling in.
• No other major injuries reported, but back-to-back fatigue is a factor.

Columbus Blue Jackets

• Brendan Smith (D): Out (leg) – 15 GP, 0G-2A-2P. Long-term absence on D.
• Zach Werenski (D): Questionable / Illness (missed Monday vs. Rangers as late scratch; was receiving fluids but coach uncertain earlier). Not formally listed on the primary injury report, so lean probable-to-play, but monitor for game-time decision. If out, Egor Zamula or depth steps up.

Columbus is otherwise healthy and rolling with their core group (Fantilli, Marchenko, Monahan lines intact).

Key Player Matchups to Watch

• Goaltending: Juuse Saros (NSH, reliable but facing heavy workload on B2B) vs. Elvis Merzlikins (CBJ, playing at a high level lately with 27+ saves in recent wins). Edge to Columbus if Merzlikins continues his form.
• Top Lines: Filip Forsberg & Jonathan Marchessault (NSH scoring threats; Forsberg PP specialist) vs. Kirill Marchenko (CBJ hot streak – multiple goals recently including OT heroics), Adam Fantilli (dynamic young center), and Sean Monahan (playmaking veteran). Marchenko’s speed and finishing will test Nashville’s defense.
• Defense/Physicality: Preds’ blue line (minus Wilsby) vs. CBJ’s group (Werenski if in adds elite puck-moving; otherwise depth tested). Columbus excels at forechecking and transition; expect heavy hits from players like Mathieu Olivier.
• Special Teams: Both teams middle-pack on PP/PK, but CBJ has been opportunistic. Preds PP relies on Forsberg one-timers.

Columbus holds edges in depth, home energy, and recent scoring punch.

Series History

• 2025-26 Season: Predators lead 1-0 (Oct 9, 2025: NSH 2-1 win at home).
• All-Time: Predators dominate historically (~71-28-5 across 104+ meetings), but recent seasons have been closer.
• Trend: Nashville has had success in low-scoring games vs. CBJ, but Columbus has won convincingly in several recent home matchups. This year’s lone meeting was tight (2-1). At Nationwide Arena, Jackets are strong against Western visitors.

Betting Trends

• Columbus is strong as home favorites vs. tired Western teams; recent home games trend toward regulation wins.
• Predators on back-to-backs are vulnerable (poor SU/ATS record).
• Games between these teams often stay Under 6.5, especially with strong goaltending on both sides.
• CBJ covers the puck line well at home against non-playoff teams; Nashville struggles to score on the road lately.

Game Odds

Nashville Predators                        6.5

Columbus Blue Jackets                  – 142

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, March 2, 2026

Puck drop is scheduled for 10:00 PM ET
Venue: SAP Center, San Jose, CA
TV/Radio: ESPN+ (national), NBC Sports California (Sharks), TSN2 / RDS (Canadiens); local radio on 98.5 The Sports Hub or TSN 690 (Canadiens affiliates) and 95.7 The Game (Sharks)

The Montreal Canadiens, one of the Eastern Conference’s hottest teams and locked into a strong Atlantic Division position, visit the San Jose Sharks in the only regular-season meeting between the clubs this year. Montreal (75 points, 3rd in Atlantic / 5th in East) enters riding momentum from a 6-2 road win over Washington on March 1, while San Jose (62 points, 5th-6th in Pacific / 9th in West) hosts with a solid home record but inconsistent recent results. This Pacific-Atlantic crossover features two clubs with playoff aspirations — Montreal pushing for a top wild-card or division seed, San Jose fighting to climb into the Western playoff picture.

Injury Report

Montreal Canadiens: No injuries listed. Full roster available, including Cole Caufield (fresh off a 2-goal game), Nick Suzuki, Kirby Dach, Juraj Slafkovsky, Mike Matheson, and goaltender Sam Montembeault (or backup as needed). San Jose Sharks: No injuries listed. Full strength expected, with Macklin Celebrini, Kiefer Sherwood, Tyler Toffoli, William Eklund, and goaltender Vitek Vanecek (or Mackenzie Blackwood) all available. Both teams are at or near maximum health, setting up a high-skill, evenly matched contest.

Recent Form (Last 10 Games)

Canadiens (6-2-2): Surging. Averaging 4.0 goals and 6.7 assists per game while allowing just 2.8; recent 6-2 win vs. Washington highlighted by Caufield’s two goals and strong secondary scoring.

Sharks (4-5-1): Inconsistent. Averaging 2.7 goals and allowing 3.0; solid home efforts mixed with defensive lapses. Macklin Celebrini has been a bright spot (5G, 6A in last 10).

Series History (2025-26 Season)

First meeting of the season (0-0).
All-time regular season: Sharks hold a slight historical edge (24-20-4-1 in recent decades), but Montreal has taken recent encounters, including a 4-3 OT win in their last matchup (Feb. 2025). Games often feature moderate-to-high scoring with Montreal’s speed creating problems.

Key Player Matchups

• Cole Caufield (Canadiens, 35G-25A) / Nick Suzuki (hot: 4G-10A last 10) vs. Sharks’ top defensive pair: Caufield’s elite release and Suzuki’s playmaking will test San Jose’s back end and goaltending.
• Macklin Celebrini (Sharks rookie sensation, 5G-6A last 10) / Kiefer Sherwood (17G) vs. Canadiens’ shutdown lines / Matheson: Celebrini’s dynamic play drives San Jose’s offense; Montreal must contain his speed in transition.
• Juraj Slafkovsky / Kirby Dach (Canadiens secondary scoring) vs. Sharks bottom-six: Montreal’s depth forwards exploit any gaps created by San Jose’s aggressive forecheck.
• Goaltending: Sam Montembeault (Canadiens) vs. Vitek Vanecek / Mackenzie Blackwood (Sharks). Both tandems are capable, but Montreal’s recent defensive structure gives them a slight edge.

Betting Trends

• Canadiens 6-2-2 in last 10 and 16-6-7 on road; strong ATS as slight favorites.
  • Sharks 16-10-3 at home and 15-5-3 in one-goal games; excellent cover rate when hosting Eastern visitors.
  • Over has hit in several recent high-event Montreal games; first-meeting factor often leads to cautious, lower-scoring starts.
  • Montreal ranks top-3 in league scoring; Sharks allow ~3.0 GPG lately.

Game Odds

Montréal Canadiens       – 135

San Jose Sharks                6.5

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, March 2, 2026

Puck drop is scheduled for 9:30 PM ET (8:30 PM CT local)
Venue: Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, MN
TV/Radio: ESPN+ / SCRIPPS Sports (Lightning regional), Bally Sports North / FanDuel Sports Network North (Wild); local radio on 970 WFLA / Lightning Audio Network (Lightning) and KFAN 100.3 FM (Wild)

The Atlantic Division-leading Tampa Bay Lightning bring one of the Eastern Conference’s top records to Saint Paul for a non-conference clash against a Minnesota Wild team holding strong in the Central Division’s upper tier. Tampa (80 points, 1st Atlantic) is coming off back-to-back losses (including a 6-2 setback to Buffalo on Feb. 28) but boasts elite scoring depth and goaltending. Minnesota (80 points, 3rd Central) snapped a brief skid with a recent loss to St. Louis on March 1 but remains a tough home team (17-7-7) with defensive structure and Kaprizov leading the charge. This is the first (and only) regular-season meeting between the teams in 2025-26.

Injury Report

Tampa Bay Lightning (depth forward concerns):

• Nick Paul (C/LW) – Out (undisclosed; IR, expected return at least March 12)
• Maxwell Crozier (D) – Out for Season (abdomen; IR)
• Gage Goncalves (C) – Day-to-Day (undisclosed; left Feb. 28 game vs. BUF, at least next 2 games out)
• Dominic James (C) – Day-to-Day (leg; left Feb. 28 game vs. BUF, at least next 2 games out)
• Others: Anthony Cirelli recently returned from lower-body (missed 4 games); core stars (Kucherov, Point, Hedman, Vasilevskiy) available and expected full participation.

Minnesota Wild (defensive and forward depth issues):

• Jonas Brodin (D) – Out (lower body; IR, expected return at least March 24)
• Marcus Foligno (LW) – Day-to-Day (lower body; missed March 1 vs. STL)
• Filip Gustavsson (G) – Day-to-Day (illness; status uncertain for tonight)
• Joel Eriksson Ek (C) – Day-to-Day (face; missed recent games)
• Others: Kirill Kaprizov available and hot (tied franchise goal record with 219); Matt Boldy, Brock Faber, and Filip Gustavsson/backup tandem in net.

Both teams are managing depth injuries, but Tampa’s forward absences hit secondary scoring while Minnesota’s blue-line loss (Brodin) forces heavier minutes for remaining D.

Recent Form (Last 5-10 Games)

Lightning (strong overall but recent dip):

• L 2-6 vs. BUF (Feb. 28) – Defensive breakdowns in loss
• Prior wins streak snapped; 16-4 SU in last 20 entering slump. Averaging high goals in wins but allowing more lately (3.5+ GA/G in losses).

Wild (solid but mixed):

• L 1-3 vs. STL (March 1) – Kaprizov goal but late collapse
• 6-2-0 in prior 8 before back-to-back losses; strong home form (17-7-7) with low-event wins. Defensive edge but scoring reliant on top line.

Series History (2025-26 Season)

First meeting of the season (0-0).
All-time: Lightning lead 13-19-1-3? Wait, historical data shows Tampa with edge in recent non-conference clashes, but low sample. Games trend competitive with moderate scoring.

Key Player Matchups

• Nikita Kucherov / Brayden Point (Lightning top line) vs. Wild shutdown D (Faber / Middleton sans Brodin): Kucherov’s elite playmaking and Point’s speed exploit gaps in depleted Minnesota blue line.
• Kirill Kaprizov / Matt Boldy (Wild top forwards) vs. Tampa defensive pair (Hedman / Sergachev): Kaprizov (219 franchise goals tied) creates high-danger chances; Tampa must limit transition.
• Andrei Vasilevskiy (Lightning G, elite .915+ SV% lately) vs. Filip Gustavsson / backup (Wild): Vasi’s experience gives Tampa edge if Gustavsson sits (illness).
• Special Teams: Lightning PP top-tier; Wild PK strong at home but vulnerable without Brodin.

Betting Trends

• Lightning 16-4 SU last 20 overall; over in 5 of last 6 Tampa games.
  • Wild 8-3 SU last 11 vs. Atlantic opponents; strong home but recent losses.
  • Total over trends in Lightning road games lately; under in Wild home defensive battles.
  • Tampa favored heavily due to record/road resilience.

Game Odds

Tampa Bay Lightning      – 130

Minnesota Wild               6.5

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, March 2, 2026

Puck drop is scheduled for 9:00 PM ET (7:00 PM MT local)
Venue: Rogers Place, Edmonton, AB
TV/Radio: ESPN+ (national), Sportsnet West / CityTV (Oilers), TSN5 / RDS (Senators); local radio on 630 CHED / Oilers Audio Network (Oilers) and TSN 1200 (Senators)

The Ottawa Senators continue their Western Canada road trip with a high-stakes visit to Rogers Place against the Edmonton Oilers in a matchup of two teams hovering around .500 and vying for playoff positioning in their respective conferences. Ottawa (66 points, 6th in Atlantic / Eastern wild-card contention) rides momentum from a strong 5-2 win over Toronto on March 1, while Edmonton (66 points, mid-Pacific / Western wild-card push) looks to capitalize on home ice after a mixed stretch. This is the second and final regular-season meeting (Oilers won the first 3-2 OT earlier this season). Expect a fast-paced, skill-heavy game featuring star power on both sides.

Injury Report

Ottawa Senators:

• David Perron (LW) – Out (groin / sports hernia; on IR, expected return mid-March after surgery)
• Nikolas Matinpalo (D) – Day-to-Day (undisclosed; missed Feb. 28 game vs. Toronto, questionable for tonight)
• Others: Full strength for core forwards (Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stützle, Drake Batherson, Dylan Cozens) and goaltending (likely Linus Ullmark if cleared from recent DTD; Anton Forsberg backup). Blue-line depth tested but manageable.

Edmonton Oilers:

• Mattias Janmark (C/LW) – Out (undisclosed / chronic; long-term absence, expected sidelined into late March or beyond)
• Others: No major new injuries reported for stars (Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Evan Bouchard, Stuart Skinner). Depth forwards filling in; Oilers rolling with healthy top lines.

Ottawa’s forward depth remains strong despite Perron’s absence; Edmonton’s bottom-six takes a hit without Janmark.

Recent Form (Last 5-10 Games)

Senators (strong recent surge):

• W 5-2 @ Toronto (March 1) – Batherson 2G, Cozens 2G; dominant second period
• Solid results post-Olympic break with wins over contenders; averaging 3.5+ GF/G in recent stretch, improved PK and road resilience (15-12-3 away).

Oilers (mixed, 3-2 in last 5):

• Competitive but inconsistent; high-scoring wins offset by defensive lapses. McDavid (35G, 68A season) and Draisaitl continue elite production; home games feature explosive offense.

Series History (2025-26 Season)

Oilers lead season series 1-0 (most recent: EDM 3-2 OT win earlier in season).
All-time: Edmonton holds slight edge in recent meetings. Games trend high-event with over trends due to offensive firepower on both sides.

Key Player Matchups

• Tim Stützle / Brady Tkachuk (Senators top line) vs. Edmonton’s top defensive pair (Bouchard / Ekholm): Stützle’s speed and playmaking vs. Edmonton’s structured D; Tkachuk’s physicality creates net-front chaos.
• Drake Batherson / Dylan Cozens (Senators secondary scoring) vs. Oilers bottom-six: Batherson’s recent hot streak (2G vs. TOR) exploits gaps; Cozens adds depth scoring.
• Connor McDavid / Leon Draisaitl (Oilers stars) vs. Senators shutdown lines / goaltending: McDavid’s elite speed and vision create constant threats; Senators must limit transition and odd-man rushes.
• Goaltending: Ottawa’s Ullmark/Forsberg tandem vs. Skinner/Campbell for Edmonton. Both teams capable of strong net play but vulnerable to high-danger chances.

Betting Trends

• Oilers strong at Rogers Place; Senators 6-2 SU in last 8 overall but 1-6 SU in last 7 vs. Edmonton.
  • Over has hit in 5 of Edmonton’s last 6 March games and several recent head-to-heads.
  • Senators 15-12-3 on road; Oilers high-event home games push totals higher.
  • Ottawa covered poorly as road underdogs vs. Pacific teams lately.

Game Odds

Ottawa Senators              6.5

Edmonton Oilers              – 130

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, March 2, 2026

The Chicago Blackhawks (23-28-9) visit the Winnipeg Jets (23-26-10) in a Central Division matchup between two struggling teams battling for positioning in the lower half of the standings. Both clubs are out of serious playoff contention late in the 2025-26 season, with the Jets holding a slight edge in points and home-ice advantage. This is one of the final meetings between the teams this season, with Chicago looking to build on a recent shutout win while Winnipeg aims to snap a mini-skid.

Venue: Canada Life Centre, Winnipeg, MB
Puck drop is scheduled for 8:00 PM ET (7:00 PM CT local)
TV/Radio: ESPN+ (national), CHSN / NBC Sports Chicago (Blackhawks), TSN3 / Bally Sports Wisconsin (Jets regional); local radio on 670 The Score (Blackhawks) / Power 97 / TSN 1290 (Jets)

Injury Report

Chicago Blackhawks:

• Sam Rinzel (D) – Day-to-Day / Questionable (illness; missed recent games, status for tonight uncertain)
• Wyatt Kaiser (D) – Out (lower body; on IR since early February, expected out longer)
• Shea Weber (D) – Out for Season (ankle; LTIR)
• Others: Minor depth call-ups or long-term absences (e.g., older vets); core forwards like Connor Bedard, Teuvo Teravainen, and Nick Foligno available.

Winnipeg Jets:

• Josh Morrissey (D) – Out (upper body; IR since mid-February, hoped for return post-road trip but unlikely tonight)
• Neal Pionk (D) – Out / Week-to-Week (new lower-body injury; recent addition)
• Nino Niederreiter (LW) – Out / Week-to-Week (lower body; lingering from pre-Olympics)
• Vladislav Namestnikov (C/LW) – Out / Week-to-Week (lower body; injured recently)
• Colin Miller (D) – Out (knee; IR)
• Haydn Fleury (D) – Questionable / Day-to-Day (non-contact skating but uncertain)
• Others: Kyle Connor available and expected to play heavy minutes.

Both teams are thin on the blue line, forcing reliance on depth defensemen and potentially affecting puck movement and special teams.

Recent Form (Last 5-10 Games)

Blackhawks (mixed, recent positive):

• W 4-0 @ Utah Mammoth (March 1) – Arvid Soderblom shutout (22 saves), Teravainen 2G (PP + SH)
• L 1-3 @ Colorado (Feb. 28)
• Struggling streak prior but ended three-game skid with clean sheet; averaging ~3.0 GF/G in wins, solid road effort lately.

Jets (struggling, 1-3-1 recent):

• L 1-2 OT @ San Jose (March 1) – Morgan Barron goal but Misa OT winner for Sharks
• L 4-5 OT @ Anaheim (prior)
• Defensive breakdowns and low scoring; averaging under 2.5 GF/G lately, goaltending holding but injuries hurting transition.

Series History (2025-26 Season)

Limited details on full series, but Chicago has struggled historically against Winnipeg (1-6 SU in last 7 meetings per trends). Jets have won most recent encounters, often in low-scoring affairs. Recent games trend tight and defensive.

Key Player Matchups

• Connor Bedard (Blackhawks C, elite prospect scoring) vs. Winnipeg’s top defensive pair (sans Morrissey/Pionk):** Bedard exploits gaps in depleted Jets D; expect high shot volume and PP usage.
• Teuvo Teravainen (Blackhawks forward, recent hot streak) vs. Jets secondary checking: Teravainen’s two-goal game vs. Utah boosts confidence; key for secondary scoring.
• Kyle Connor / Mark Scheifele (Jets forwards) vs. Chicago’s young D: Connor back and motivated; Scheifele centers top line against depleted Hawks blue line.
• Goaltending: Arvid Soderblom (Blackhawks, fresh shutout) vs. Jets starter (likely Hellebuyck or backup): Soderblom’s momentum vs. Winnipeg’s injury-hit defense could allow rebounds/odd-man rushes.

Betting Trends

• Jets strong at home but 2-3 ATS in last 5; Blackhawks 1-5 SU last 6 road games.
  • Under has hit in recent low-scoring Jets home games and Blackhawks road contests.
  • Chicago 1-6 SU last 7 vs. Winnipeg; Jets poor ATS recently due to injuries.
  • Total Under 5.5/6 in multiple recent head-to-heads.

Game Odds

Chicago Blackhawks       5.5

Winnipeg Jets                   – 162

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, March 2, 2026

Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET
Venue: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
TV/Radio: ESPN+ (national), Utah16 / Mammoth+ (Mammoth), Monumental Sports Network (Capitals); local radio on KSL Sports Zone 97.5 FM / 1280 AM (Mammoth) and 106.7 The Fan / Capitals Radio (Capitals)

The Central Division Mammoth open a five-game road trip in the nation’s capital against a Metropolitan Division Capitals team looking to rebound from a blowout loss. Utah (66 points, 4th Central / 6th West) sits in the thick of the Western wild-card race with a healthy roster for the first time all season. Washington (69 points, 4th Metropolitan / 9th East) holds a slight playoff cushion but has been inconsistent lately despite Alex Ovechkin’s continued scoring prowess. This is the first of two regular-season meetings (second on March 26 in Utah).

Injury Report

Utah Mammoth:

• None reported. The Mammoth have a fully healthy roster — forwards Logan Cooley and Alexander Kerfoot returned from injuries on Feb. 25, and the team enters with no day-to-day or long-term absences for the first time this season.

Washington Capitals:

• John Carlson (D) – Day-to-Day (lower body; skated in no-contact jersey March 2, possible return tonight — earliest possible activation)
• Eriks Mateiko (LW) – Out (long-term)
• Others: Alex Ovechkin took a maintenance day March 2 but is expected to play. Goaltender Charlie Lindgren listed day-to-day in some reports but not confirmed out.

Washington’s blue-line depth could be tested if Carlson sits, while Utah rolls with maximum roster flexibility.

Recent Form (Last 10 Games)

Mammoth (5-5-0):

• W 5-2 vs. Minnesota (Feb. 27) – Clayton Keller (1G, 2A), Lawson Crouse (2G)
• L 0-4 vs. Chicago (March 1)
• Mixed results with solid wins against weaker teams but defensive lapses in losses. Averaging 3.2 GF/G and 2.8 GA/G lately; strong special teams on the road.

Capitals (6-3-1):

• L 2-6 @ Montreal (March 1) – Ovechkin 2G in loss
• W 3-2 vs. Vegas (Feb. 27)
• W 3-1 vs. Philadelphia (Feb. 25)
  High-event hockey with Ovechkin carrying the offense (24G, 26A season totals). Home games feature better structure but recent defensive breakdowns.

Series History (2025-26 Season)

First meeting of the season (0-0).
All-time: Limited history as a new franchise matchup, but Washington has historically fared well against Western visitors at home.

Key Player Matchups

• Clayton Keller (Mammoth, 18G-40A) / Nick Schmaltz (hot streak: 5G-4A in last 10) vs. Capitals’ top defensive pair: Utah’s speed and playmaking will test Washington’s transition game.
• Alex Ovechkin (Capitals, chasing milestones) vs. Utah’s shutdown D (including healthy blue line): Ovi’s shot volume and net-front presence create constant threats; Mammoth must limit his ice time and quality chances.
• Goaltending: Utah expected to start a rested netminder (likely Karel Vejmelka or similar after recent rotation); Washington likely Charlie Lindgren or backup if DTD lingers.
• Special Teams: Mammoth strong on the road PK/PP; Capitals capitalize on home power plays but vulnerable after recent high-event games.

Betting Trends

• Capitals 19-10-3 at home and strong ATS as favorites vs. Western teams.
  • Mammoth 5-5-0 in last 10 but 13-15-2 on road; Over has hit in 8 of last 11 as road underdogs.
  • Total Under 6.5 in several recent low-event Capitals home wins.
  • First-meeting factor favors home team with crowd energy; Ovechkin factor boosts Washington ML in close games.

Game Odds

Utah Mammoth               6.5

Washington Capitals      – 125

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, March 2, 2026

Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET
Venue: Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
TV/Radio: TNT / HBO Max / SCRIPPS (national), Bally Sports Florida (Panthers), MSG+ (Devils); local radio on 560 WQAM / 640 WGAM (Panthers) and WFAN 660 AM / 101.9 FM (Devils)

The struggling Florida Panthers, clinging to slim playoff hopes eight points back of the final Eastern wild-card spot, visit a New Jersey Devils team that just snapped a five-game losing streak and is fighting to stay relevant in the Metropolitan Division. Both clubs sit near the bottom of the Eastern Conference playoff picture (Panthers 7th in Atlantic/13th East; Devils 7th in Metro/15th East), making this a critical late-season matchup with playoff implications on the line. This is the rubber match of the season series (tied 1-1).

Injury Report

Florida Panthers:

• Uvis Balinskis (D) – Out (lower body; missed start of current road trip)
• Dmitry Kulikov (D) – Out (upper body; on IR, expected return mid-to-late March)
• Tomas Nosek (LW) – Out / Long-term (lower body; sidelined since October)
• All other key players available, including Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk (played Mar 1 with 3 assists), Sam Bennett (2 goals Mar 1), Sergei Bobrovsky (started last game), and Brad Marchand. Panthers thin on the blue line but rolling with core forwards.

New Jersey Devils:

• Stefan Noesen (RW) – Out for season (knee surgery; LTIR since mid-January)
• Zack MacEwen (RW) – Out for season (ACL surgery)
• Jack Hughes (C) – Available (recently returned from lower-body injury; impactful in recent games)
• Full complement of remaining stars expected, including Nico Hischier, Timo Meier, Dougie Hamilton, and goaltender Jacob Markstrom (strong 25-save effort in last win).

New Jersey has better depth availability, while Florida’s defensive injuries force heavier minutes for the top pairing.

Recent Form (Last 10 Games)

Panthers (3-7-0): Slumping badly (lost 7 of last 9, 2-7-0 since Olympic break).

• L 4-5 @ NY Islanders (Mar 1) – Bennett 2G, Tkachuk 3A, but Bobrovsky allowed 5
• L vs. Buffalo
• W vs. Toronto
• L vs. Tampa Bay
• S/O W vs. Boston
• Multiple losses to weaker teams; averaging 3.0+ goals but allowing 3.8+ against.

Devils (recent 4-6-0 stretch but hot streak breaker):

• W 3-1 @ St. Louis (Feb 28) – Markstrom 25 saves, Meier/G Hamilton/Hischier goals; snapped 5-game skid
• L vs. Pittsburgh
• L vs. Buffalo / NYI / CBJ / OTT
• OT W vs. Nashville
  Improved defensively in the win but still scoring-challenged (outscored 16-4 during the skid).

Series History (2025-26 Season)

Tied 1-1:

• Oct. 16, 2026: Devils 3, Panthers 1 (at Prudential Center)
• Nov. 20, 2025: Panthers 1, Devils 0 (in Florida)
  Low-scoring trend; Panthers shut out New Jersey in the most recent meeting. All-time: Panthers hold a slight edge in recent seasons, but Devils strong at home vs. Florida.

Key Player Matchups

• Aleksander Barkov (Panthers C, elite two-way) vs. Nico Hischier (Devils C): Barkov’s faceoff dominance and defensive shutdown vs. Hischier’s speed and playmaking in a center battle that could decide puck possession.
• Matthew Tkachuk / Sam Bennett (Panthers top line) vs. Timo Meier / Devils forecheck: Tkachuk’s physicality and playmaking (3A in last game) tested by New Jersey’s heavy forecheck and Hamilton’s mobility on the back end.
• Sergei Bobrovsky (Panthers G, .872 SV% / 3.13 GAA lately) vs. Jacob Markstrom (Devils G, coming off 25-save win): Bobrovsky has been inconsistent; Markstrom gives New Jersey the edge in net if he repeats his recent form.
• Special Teams: Panthers PP 19.5% (mid-pack), PK 82.2% (top-10); Devils PP 20.3%, PK 79.6%. Panthers’ power play could exploit New Jersey’s road PK vulnerabilities.

Betting Trends

• Panthers 3-7-0 SU / poor ATS in last 10; 1-4 SU on current road segment.
  • Devils 1-1 SU since snapping 5-game skid; strong home covers when Markstrom starts.
  • Under has hit in 6 of last 8 head-to-head meetings (both teams low-scoring lately).
  • Panthers 2-7-0 in last 9 overall; Devils 13-13-2 at Prudential but improved defensively at home.
  • Total Under 6 in 7 of Panthers’ last 10 road games.

Game Odds

Florida Panthers               5.5

New Jersey Devils            – 110

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, March 2, 2026