NHL March 17, 2026

This is a fascinating matchup between two franchises heading in completely opposite directions. The New York Islanders (38-24-5, 81 points) have been rock-solid all season, playing the kind of structured, defensive-first hockey that wins you games in March and April. Meanwhile, the Toronto Maple Leafs (29-27-12, 70 points) are in the midst of a deeply disappointing campaign, sitting 11 points behind the Islanders despite playing in one of the biggest hockey markets in the world. The Leafs were supposed to be contenders this season, and instead they're fighting just to stay relevant as the playoffs approach.

New York being the road favorite at -142 in Toronto tells you everything about where these two teams stand right now. The Islanders don't beat you with flash or highlight-reel goals. They beat you with suffocating defensive structure, disciplined neutral zone play, and the ability to capitalize on the few chances they create. It's not pretty hockey, but it's effective hockey, and their 81 points through 67 games proves the formula works. Ilya Sorokin has been excellent between the pipes, and when you combine elite goaltending with a defense-first system, you get a team that is incredibly difficult to play against on any given night.

Toronto's 29-27-12 record is a disaster for a franchise with the payroll and the talent expectations of the Maple Leafs. The 12 overtime and shootout losses are particularly damning, because it means this team has been competitive in a lot of games but simply can't close them out. Losing Mitch Marner in that July 2025 trade to the Golden Knights gutted the top of their lineup, and the Leafs have never fully recovered from that loss of elite playmaking ability. Auston Matthews is still Auston Matthews, but one superstar can only do so much when the supporting cast can't consistently produce around him.

The 5.5 total is set low, and that makes sense given the Islanders' defensive identity. New York doesn't allow teams to generate high-quality chances with any consistency, and their commitment to clogging up the neutral zone and limiting rush opportunities means Toronto is going to have to work incredibly hard for every scoring chance they get. The Leafs can score in bunches when they're clicking, but the Islanders are one of the best teams in the league at preventing exactly that kind of offensive explosion. This feels like a 3-1 or 3-2 type game where New York controls the pace and makes Toronto play at their tempo all night long.

Carolina continues to be the class of the Metropolitan Division, and at 42-18-6 with 90 points, the Hurricanes are on pace for yet another dominant regular season. Rod Brind'Amour's squad has been built for sustained success, and the consistency they've shown over the past several years is a testament to both the coaching staff and the front office's ability to keep reloading the roster. Tonight they visit a Columbus team (34-21-11, 79 points) that has been one of the more pleasant surprises in the Eastern Conference, and the Blue Jackets are going to be eager to prove they can hang with the big boys in their own building.

The Hurricanes' 90 points through 66 games put them on pace for a 112-point season, which would be franchise-best territory. What makes Carolina so dangerous is that they don't have a single glaring weakness. The offense generates chances at an elite rate, the defense is among the stingiest in the league, and the goaltending has been reliable all season. They play with a relentless pace that wears teams down over 60 minutes, and their ability to forecheck and create turnovers in the offensive zone makes them a nightmare to play against for any opponent. When the Hurricanes are rolling, they look like a legitimate Stanley Cup contender, and they've been rolling for most of this season.

Columbus at 34-21-11 with 79 points is having a genuinely impressive season, and those 11 overtime losses tell you this is a team that competes hard in every single game. The Blue Jackets aren't going to fold just because the Hurricanes are in town. They have enough talent and enough pride to make this a competitive 60-minute game, and playing at Nationwide Arena gives them a boost. The home crowd has been loud all season as fans finally have a team worth getting excited about, and a matchup against one of the East's elite teams is exactly the kind of game that brings out the best in a hungry, motivated roster.

The 6.5 total and the -135 moneyline for Carolina suggest the market sees this as a close, competitive game with some offensive potential. The Hurricanes are slight favorites on the road, which is appropriate given the gap in the standings, but this isn't the kind of line that suggests a blowout. Columbus has the talent to make this uncomfortable for Carolina, and the Blue Jackets' home record has been strong all season. If Columbus can stay out of the penalty box and keep this at even strength, they have a legitimate chance to pull off what would be a statement win for a franchise looking to make noise in the postseason.

Minnesota has been one of the most impressive teams in the entire Western Conference this season, and at 38-18-12 with 88 points, the Wild are firmly entrenched in the Central Division's upper echelon. Tonight they travel to Chicago to face a Blackhawks team (25-30-11, 61 points) that is firmly in rebuild mode and playing out the string. The talent gap between these two rosters is significant, and the -175 moneyline on Minnesota reflects that reality. The Wild play structured, detail-oriented hockey under Dean Evason, and they've been remarkably consistent all season long. Their 12 overtime losses are a lot, but those close games also show a team that rarely gets blown out.

The Wild's 88 points through 68 games translate to a pace of roughly 106 points over a full season, which would be one of the best finishes in franchise history. What makes Minnesota so effective is their balance. They don't rely on one superstar to carry the load. Instead, they roll four lines that all contribute, they play responsible defensive hockey, and they get timely goaltending. Kirill Kaprizov continues to be the engine that drives the offense, and his ability to create something out of nothing on any given shift makes the Wild a threat every time he touches the puck. Surrounding Kaprizov with a deep, hard-working supporting cast has been the recipe for success all year.

Chicago is in the middle of a full-scale rebuild, and nights like tonight are about development for the young players more than they are about wins and losses. The Blackhawks' 25-30-11 record tells you this is a team that shows up and competes (those 11 OTL prove they're hanging around in games) but ultimately doesn't have the depth or the high-end talent to beat good teams consistently. Connor Bedard continues to develop, and fans in Chicago have reason to be optimistic about the future, but the present reality is that this is a team that's going to take its lumps against playoff-caliber opponents. And Minnesota is absolutely a playoff-caliber opponent.

The 5.5 total feels like it could go either way. Minnesota plays a controlled, low-event style that tends to suppress scoring, but Chicago's defensive structure isn't exactly airtight, which creates opportunities for the Wild to generate quality chances. If Minnesota jumps out to an early lead, they're one of the best teams in the league at protecting it, and this game could easily end up a 3-1 or 4-1 final. But if the Blackhawks keep it close early, the young talent can get inspired and make things interesting in the third period. The MIN -1.5 puck line at +142 offers decent value given the talent disparity and the Wild's consistency on the road.

This is as close to a coin-flip game as you'll find on tonight's slate. Nashville (29-28-9, 67 points) and Winnipeg (28-28-10, 66 points) are separated by a single point in the standings, and both teams are clinging to fading playoff hopes as the stretch run begins. The Predators hold the slightest edge, but neither team has been consistent enough to inspire confidence. This is a desperation game for both sides, and those tend to be some of the most entertaining and unpredictable games on the schedule. When two teams know that a loss could effectively end their postseason dreams, the intensity ratchets up to a different level.

Winnipeg being a slight -130 favorite at home is mostly a function of home-ice advantage, because there's genuinely nothing separating these two teams on paper. The Jets started the season on an absolute heater, looking like one of the best teams in the Western Conference, but their collapse in the second half has been nothing short of stunning. Going from first in the conference to fighting for their playoff lives is the kind of freefall that tests a locker room's character, and Winnipeg hasn't passed that test convincingly. The Canada Life Centre crowd has gone from euphoric to anxious, and the pressure on this team tonight will be immense.

Nashville hasn't been much better, but the Predators at least have the excuse of being a team that was always going to be in a fight for a playoff spot. The expectations were lower for Nashville going into the season, and yet here they are, one point ahead of Winnipeg with something to play for in mid-March. Juuse Saros has kept this team in games all season with his goaltending, and when you have a netminder who can steal a game on any given night, you always have a chance. The Predators' defensive structure has been solid enough to limit opponents' chances, but the offense has been inconsistent, and that's what's kept them from pulling away from the pack.

The 5.5 total and the tight moneyline suggest the market expects a low-scoring, tightly contested affair, and that tracks with what these two teams have shown lately. Neither team is built to win shootouts. Both teams prefer to play a grinding, physical style that limits chances and relies on capitalizing on the few quality opportunities that arise. Special teams could be the difference-maker, and in a game between two evenly matched teams, whichever side executes better on the power play is likely to come out on top. This has 2-1 or 3-2 written all over it, with the outcome hanging in the balance until the final minutes.

Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers (33-26-9, 75 points) host the San Jose Sharks (20-38-8, 48 points) in what looks like the most lopsided talent matchup on tonight's slate. The Sharks own the worst record in the NHL, and their 48 points through 66 games put them firmly in last place and on track for a top draft pick. San Jose is in full teardown mode, and nights like this against McDavid and the Oilers are the kind of games where the talent gap becomes painfully obvious. Edmonton needs every point they can get in a tight Western Conference race, and they can't afford to let games like this slip away.

Edmonton's -166 moneyline feels about right for a home game against the league's worst team, but the Oilers haven't exactly been dominant this season. Their 33-26-9 record and 75 points put them squarely in the wild card conversation, but this isn't a team that inspires fear the way they did during their run to the 2024 Stanley Cup Final. McDavid is still the best player on the planet, and Leon Draisaitl continues to be one of the most dangerous goal-scorers in the game, but the supporting cast has been inconsistent, and the goaltending has been a question mark at various points throughout the year. When your two best players are as good as McDavid and Draisaitl, 75 points through 68 games feels underwhelming.

San Jose is going to compete because that's what professional athletes do, but the reality is that this roster simply doesn't have the talent to keep up with a motivated Oilers team at Rogers Place. The Sharks have been one of the worst defensive teams in the league all season, and when you can't keep the puck out of your own net, playing against McDavid and Draisaitl becomes an exercise in damage control. Macklin Celebrini has shown flashes of the talent that made him the first overall pick, and Sharks fans can take solace in watching their future franchise centerpiece develop, but the present reality is that this team is going to take a lot of beatings in the second half of the season.

The 6.5 total reflects the expectation that Edmonton's offense will have its way with San Jose's defense, and that's a reasonable assumption. When McDavid and Draisaitl get room to operate, they can put up points in bunches, and the Sharks aren't going to give them much resistance. The question is whether San Jose's offense can contribute enough to push the game over that number, or whether Edmonton's defense can keep the Sharks quiet enough to keep the total under. The EDM -1.5 puck line at +136 looks attractive given the talent gap, and if the Oilers come out with purpose in the first period, this game could get out of hand quickly.

This might be the most intriguing storyline on the entire slate. The Florida Panthers are the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions, winners in 2024 and 2025, but their title defense this season has been nothing short of shocking. At 33-30-3 with just 69 points through 66 games, the Panthers look like a completely different team than the one that hoisted the Cup last June. Defending a championship is the hardest thing to do in professional sports, and Florida has discovered that the hard way. Injuries, fatigue, regression, and the relentless grind of being everyone's biggest game have all taken their toll, and the Panthers are now in a fight for their playoff lives.

Vancouver (26-34-7, 59 points) is having an even worse season, and the Canucks' 59 points put them firmly out of the playoff picture. After reaching the second round of the playoffs in 2024, the expectations in Vancouver were sky-high entering this season, but nothing has gone according to plan. Injuries, inconsistent goaltending, and an offense that has struggled to score with any regularity have turned this into a lost season. The Canucks are playing out the string and looking ahead to the offseason, which makes them a dangerous opponent in the sense that there's no pressure on them whatsoever. Sometimes a team with nothing to lose plays their most free and creative hockey.

Florida being a -155 road favorite is a testament to the roster talent they still possess, even if the results haven't reflected it this season. The Panthers still have Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart, and a core that knows what it takes to win at the highest level. The question is whether that experience and championship pedigree can salvage a season that has gone completely sideways, or whether the damage is already done. Every game from here on out is a must-win for Florida, and the urgency factor alone should give the Panthers an edge against a Vancouver team that's already mentally checked out of the season.

The 5.5 total and the -155 moneyline suggest a tight, low-scoring game, which makes sense given both teams' offensive struggles this season. Florida's offense hasn't been nearly as potent as it was during the championship runs, and Vancouver's defensive structure has collapsed at various points throughout the year. But in a game between two struggling teams, the natural tendency is for both sides to play cautiously and try to avoid mistakes rather than open things up offensively. This feels like a 3-2 type game where the team that makes fewer mistakes comes out on top, and Florida's championship experience gives them the edge in those situations.

Tampa Bay continues to be one of the most dangerous teams in the Eastern Conference, and at 40-21-4 with 84 points, the Lightning look like a team that's built for another deep playoff run. The core of Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, and a defense anchored by Victor Hedman has been through the wars together, and that experience matters when the games tighten up in March and April. Tampa Bay is on pace for a 98-point season, and they're playing with the kind of urgency and purpose you'd expect from a team that knows the Stanley Cup window is still wide open.

Seattle (31-26-9, 71 points) is sitting in a tricky spot in the Western Conference standings, close enough to a playoff spot to maintain hope but not close enough to feel comfortable. The Kraken have been an up-and-down team all season, capable of beating anyone on their best nights but also prone to stretches where the consistency disappears and the losses pile up. Playing at home in Climate Pledge Arena gives Seattle a boost, and the crowd has been engaged all season, but hosting the Lightning is a tough draw on a Tuesday night. Tampa Bay brings a level of talent and playoff experience that the Kraken simply can't match.

The -192 moneyline on Tampa Bay is the most lopsided line on the entire slate, and it reflects the significant gap between these two teams. The Lightning are deeper, more talented, better coached, and have more experience playing meaningful games in the second half of the season. Kucherov has been in his typical elite form all year, and his ability to create offense out of thin air makes Tampa Bay dangerous on every single shift. When you combine that kind of high-end talent with the defensive structure and goaltending stability that Jon Cooper's system provides, you get a team that wins the majority of its road games against mid-tier opponents.

The 6.5 total is interesting because Tampa Bay has the firepower to put up four or five goals on any given night, and Seattle's defense has been inconsistent enough to allow it. The Lightning's power play has been a weapon all season, and if the Kraken take penalties, Tampa Bay has the skill to make them pay quickly and decisively. On the other side, Seattle's offense has shown it can generate scoring chances, but converting those chances against a Lightning team that defends well and has quality goaltending is a tall order. The TBL -1.5 at +130 looks attractive if you believe the Lightning come out focused and take care of business on the road, which they've done consistently all year against teams below them in the standings.