* The Senators held the Rangers to just 10 shots en route to their third straight win as Ottawa moved within two points of a playoff spot for the first time since Jan. 3.
* An ESPN doubleheader on Tuesday opens with a Metropolitan Division battle between the Blue Jackets and Flyers and concludes with Connor McDavid and the Oilers facing off against the Mammoth. The Edmonton captain is within striking distance of becoming the third-fastest player in NHL history to 1,200 career points.
* The leader in the Art Ross Trophy race faces off against a Norris Trophy contender when Nikita Kucherov and the Lightning welcome Quinn Hughes and the Wild on NHL on TNT.
SENATORS SKATE TO THIRD STRAIGHT WIN, MOVE CLOSER TO WILD CARD POSITION
The Senators (37-24-9, 83 points) outlasted the Rangers and moved two points back of the idle Islanders (40-26-5, 85 points) for the second Wild Card spot in a competitive Eastern Conference race that features four teams (DET, OTT, PHI & WSH) sitting within six points of the final playoff spot.
* Ottawa moved within two points of a playoff position for the first time since Jan. 3 (2 back of WC 2) after being as far back as 10 points out on Jan. 30. The Senators can become the only team to overcome a 10-point deficit and qualify for the postseason multiple times since the current playoff format was introduced in 2013-14 (also 14 points in 2014-15).
* The Senators held the Rangers to 10 shots on goal – their fewest shots against in a game in franchise history.
NOTE: The original post-game note listed the Rangers with nine shots on goal – but another shot was added after statistical review.
QUICK CLICKS
* Playoff races tight entering stretch run of season
* Nikita Kucherov, Filip Forsberg and Cole Caufield Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ of the Week
* NHL EDGE stats: Steven Stamkos’ goal-scoring resurgence for Predators
* Rangers wear long wigs to honor Mika Zibanejad ahead of 1,000th NHL game
* Hurricanes, Kraken to play in 2026 Global Series Finland
PLAYOFF RACES, TOP STARS AND MUCH MORE FEATURED IN 15-GAME SLATE
A 15-game slate features an ESPN+ and Hulu doubleheader between intraconference rivals: the Blue Jackets visit the Flyers before the Mammoth host the Oilers. NHL on TNT will also televise the League’s leading scorer, Nikita Kucherov, and the Lightning facing Quinn Hughes and the Wild while Cole Harbour, N.S., natives Nathan MacKinnon and Sidney Crosby square off on Sportsnet programming.
* Columbus (37-22-11, 85 points) occupies third in the Metropolitan Division and is just one point back of Pittsburgh (35-19-16, 86 points) for second as the Blue Jackets look to solidify a postseason spot for the first time since 2019-20. Charlie Coyle, who ranks third on the Blue Jackets in points, looks to help them achieve that goal in his first season with the team. Coyle has appeared in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of his first 13 seasons – the NHL’s longest active streak of consecutive years in the postseason. Overall, he can become the 21st player in League history to appear in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of his first 14 campaigns and first since Paul Martin (14 from 2003-04 – 2017-18).
* Boone Jenner also plays an integral part of the Blue Jackets’ push to the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs and his commitment to the franchise has been felt throughout Columbus. Jenner is a Hockey Fights Cancer Champion and spends time with families and children battling cancer. The Blue Jackets captain says he takes a lot from those moments – that both inspires him and puts life into perspective.
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* ESPN’s doubleheader concludes with Connor McDavid and the Oilers (34-28-9, 77 points) looking to gain ground in the Pacific Division when they face the Mammoth (37-28-6, 80 points), who have occupied the first Wild Card spot every day since Feb. 2. McDavid (399-799—1,198 in 783 GP) is nearing a trio of milestones for career goals, assists and points. Should he find the score sheet twice tonight, he would become the third-fastest player in NHL history to 1,200 points, behind only Wayne Gretzky (504 GP) and Mario Lemieux (593 GP).
* TNT’s national broadcast pits the Art Ross Trophy leader against a Norris Trophy contender when Kucherov and Hughes clash. Kucherov (40-79—119) has upped his production as of late to take a three-point lead over McDavid (38-78—116) after trailing him by as much as eight just eight days ago. Kucherov is now one away from his fifth career 80-assist campaign and can tie Bobby Orr for the third most in NHL history behind only Wayne Gretzky (14) and Mario Lemieux (6). Hughes (6-63—69) can also join Orr on a list with his fourth straight 70-point season – a feat only seven defensemen in NHL history have accomplished.
* MacKinnon (8-17—25 in 19 GP) and Crosby (9-7—16 in 19 GP) will clash for the 20th time in their careers, with Colorado (10-6-3) holding the edge in those contests (PIT: 9-9-1). The Penguins look to move towards following suit of the Avalanche – one of two teams to clinch a berth in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs – and secure a postseason spot for the first time since 2021-22. Crosby and his longtime teammate Evgeni Malkin can join Corey Perry (17) and Alex Ovechkin (16) as the only active players to appear in 16 different postseasons.
MORE “MUST-SEE” MOMENTS ON TAP WITH 30 TEAMS IN ACTION
With 30 teams taking the ice Tuesday, there’s plenty more storylines to tune in for as playoff races intensify and young stars continue to leave lasting impressions with their respective clubs.
* Matthew Schaefer (22-29—51 in 71 GP) and the Islanders (40-26-5, 85 points) own a one-point cushion for Wild Card 2 in the Eastern Conference but also sit two points shy of overtaking the Penguins (35-19-16, 86 points) for second place in the Metropolitan Division and home-ice advantage in the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Schaefer, with two goals in his past three games and a team-leading (tied) 10 points this month (4-6—10), sits one tally shy of tying Brian Leetch (23 in 1988-89) for the most goals by a rookie defenseman in a single season in NHL history.
* The Red Wings (38-24-8, 84 points) and Senators (37-24-9, 83 points) meet at Little Caesars Arena with pivotal points on the line in the Eastern Conference Wild Card race as Detroit – the first team outside the playoff picture – sits one point back of the NY Islanders (40-26-5, 85 points) of Wild Card 2 with a game in hand. The Red Wings are in search of their first playoff appearance since 2015-16 and are led by Alex DeBrincat (35-38—73 in 70 GP) and Lucas Raymond (22-46—68 in 68 GP), who can become the first pair of Detroit teammates to average at least a point per game in the same season (min. 30 GP) since Pavel Datsyuk (1.04) and Henrik Zetterberg (1.04) in 2012-13.
* The Pacific Division-leading Ducks (39-27-4, 82 points) sit one victory shy of their first 40-win season since 2017-18 – also their last postseason appearance. Anaheim’s journey toward a 40-win campaign has been aided by a League-leading 10 third-period comeback wins (tied w/ VGK) as well as Jackson LaCombe’s pursuit of becoming the franchise’s fifth 50-point scorer this season (9-40—49 in 70 GP) and first defenseman since Lubomir Visnovsky (18-50—68 in 2010-11). The Ducks have featured five or more 50-point players in a single season four times in franchise history: 2006-07 (6), 2010-11 (5), 2008-09 (5) and 1998-99 (5).
* The NHL’s longest active win streak (4 GP) has propelled the Predators (33-28-9, 75 points) from four points out of the playoff picture into the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference as they look to fend off Macklin Celebrini (35-61—96 in 68 GP) and the Sharks (32-20-6, 70 points). Celebrini, fifth in overall scoring this season, is within striking distance of 100 points in 2025-26 and 100 career assists (99 in 138 GP). The Sharks forward can become the fifth teenager in NHL history to register 100 or more career assists alongside Sidney Crosby (147), Wayne Gretzky (144), Dale Hawerchuk (109) and Steve Yzerman (107).
