NHL Previews Today

Two Original Six-adjacent franchises with passionate fanbases and frustrating seasons meet in the Canadian capital for what amounts to a pride game in the final weeks of the regular season. The Senators are modest home favorites at -117, but this is essentially a toss-up on the moneyline with Buffalo getting +105 as the visitors. Ottawa has been the more consistent team of the two, but neither club has lived up to the expectations their respective fanbases carried into October, and now both are playing for nothing more than draft position and player development.

Buffalo's season has been another chapter in the franchise's seemingly endless rebuild. The Sabres have talented pieces, particularly up front, but they haven't been able to put together the kind of sustained excellence that translates into meaningful games in April. Tage Thompson continues to be a dynamic offensive threat, and Rasmus Dahlin is one of the most talented defensemen in the league when he's locked in. But the supporting cast has been inconsistent, and the goaltending hasn't been reliable enough to steal games on a regular basis. Getting +105 on the road against a comparable team isn't a bad number, but it's hard to trust a Sabres team that has been maddeningly unpredictable all year.

Ottawa has Brady Tkachuk leading the charge as always, bringing his trademark intensity and physicality to every shift. The Senators' power play has been a strength at times this season, and their young forwards have shown flashes of the upside that makes this organization optimistic about the future. But the defensive structure has been leaky, and the goaltending has been inconsistent enough to undermine some of the offensive progress. The -117 line suggests the market sees this as a slight lean to Ottawa on home ice, and that feels about right for a Senators team that plays noticeably better in front of their home crowd.

The 6.5 total is telling: both of these teams play a wide-open, offensively oriented style that prioritizes skill over structure. Neither defense is going to suffocate the other team's top line, and both goaltenders are capable of having a rough night. This has all the makings of a 4-3 or 5-4 barnburner where both teams trade goals in bunches and the final minutes are genuinely chaotic. For entertainment value, this game could quietly be one of the most watchable on the entire Thursday slate, even if it doesn't carry the playoff implications of some of the marquee matchups.

Sidney Crosby visits Tampa Bay in what could be one of the final Florida road trips of the legend's career, and while neither team is where they want to be in the standings, the star power in this matchup makes it must-watch television. Tampa Bay is the clear favorite at -165, and the Lightning have been playing with more purpose and intensity in recent weeks as they try to salvage something from a season that has been more difficult than anticipated. Andrei Vasilevskiy remains one of the best goaltenders on the planet, and when he's dialed in, the Lightning are a different animal entirely.

Pittsburgh's season has been a painful exercise in watching the Crosby era wind down without the team being able to surround their franchise player with enough talent to compete. Crosby continues to defy Father Time with his otherworldly skill and compete level, but the Penguins simply don't have the depth, the goaltending, or the defensive structure to hang with the league's better teams night after night. It's a situation that every hockey fan can appreciate on a human level, watching a generational talent give everything he has while the results just don't come. The +149 moneyline reflects what most people already know: this Penguins team is outmatched on the road against quality opponents.

Tampa's home ice has been a significant advantage this season, and Amalie Arena is going to be rocking for a game against one of the most recognizable players in hockey history. The Lightning's offensive firepower, led by the usual suspects, is more than capable of putting up four or five goals against a Pittsburgh defense that has been giving up quality chances at an alarming rate all season. Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, and the rest of Tampa's skill group should find plenty of room to operate against a Penguins team that struggles to defend the rush and the cycle equally.

The 6.5 total is right in the wheelhouse for a game between two teams that lean toward offense over defense. Pittsburgh has been involved in a lot of high-scoring affairs this season, partly because their goaltending can be shaky and partly because Crosby's line is still capable of generating offense against anyone. Tampa has the firepower to match or exceed whatever the Penguins put on the board, and Vasilevskiy's ability to make a couple of big saves at key moments is often the difference. This could easily be a 5-3 or 4-3 game with plenty of action on both sides of the ice.

The most famous arena in hockey hosts one of the Original Six's most storied rivalries, but this version of Canadiens-Rangers doesn't carry the intensity of years past. New York is officially out of the playoff picture, and the post-trade-deadline Rangers are a shell of the team that entered the season with championship aspirations. The roster has been gutted, the veterans who were supposed to lead this team are gone, and the focus has shifted entirely toward the future. Montreal, meanwhile, is the road favorite at -155, a sentence that would have felt impossible a few years ago when the Rangers were one of the most fearsome teams in the Eastern Conference.

The Canadiens have been one of the feel-good stories of the NHL this season, with their young core taking meaningful steps forward and proving that the rebuild in Montreal is ahead of schedule. Nick Suzuki has been fantastic as the team's first-line center, and the supporting cast has bought into Martin St. Louis's system with the kind of energy and effort that makes this team genuinely fun to watch. Montreal isn't a Cup contender yet, but they're competitive every night, and that's a massive improvement from where this franchise was just a couple of years ago. Getting -155 on the road at MSG is a testament to how far the Canadiens have come.

For the Rangers, these final weeks are about evaluating young players and figuring out which pieces fit into the next iteration of this team. The veterans who remain are playing out the string, and the atmosphere at Madison Square Garden has gone from electric to melancholy as the reality of a lost season has fully set in. That said, pride games at MSG can produce strange results. The Rangers aren't going to quit, and the young players trying to earn roster spots for next season will be playing with maximum effort. The +130 moneyline reflects the market's belief that this is an exploitable spot for Montreal, but MSG is always a dangerous place to play, regardless of the standings.

The 6.5 total feels appropriate for a game between a Montreal team that can score in bunches and a Rangers team that has been leaky defensively since trading away key pieces. The Canadiens have the offensive weapons to take advantage of New York's depleted blue line, and the Rangers' goaltending situation has been in flux since the deadline moves. Don't be surprised if this one gets into the 4-3 or 5-3 range, with Montreal's skill advantage showing up on the power play and in transition. This is a rivalry game on a historic stage, but the talent gap between these two teams right now is real, and the moneyline reflects it.

This is about as close to a coin flip as you'll find on the Thursday slate, with Detroit at -102 and Philadelphia at -111 on the moneyline. Both teams are in similar positions: out of the playoff race but not completely mailing it in, with young players fighting for ice time and roster spots. The Flyers have the slightest of edges as home favorites, and Wells Fargo Center has been a tough building for visitors when the Philly faithful are engaged. But this Detroit team isn't a pushover, and the Red Wings have shown flashes of competitiveness throughout the season, even against teams they aren't supposed to beat.

Detroit's young core continues to develop, and games like this are where the front office gets to evaluate whether their prospects can perform in meaningful situations against NHL-caliber competition. The Red Wings' offense has been inconsistent, capable of putting together stretches of brilliant puck movement and creative zone entries, but equally capable of going quiet for 20-minute stretches where they can't generate anything of quality. The defense has been a work in progress, and the goaltending has been a question mark that the organization will need to address this offseason. At -102 on the road, you're getting a fair price on a team that can absolutely win this game.

Philadelphia has been going through their own growing pains, but there have been encouraging signs throughout the season that suggest the rebuild is heading in the right direction. The Flyers' young defensemen have shown improvement as the season has progressed, and the forward group has enough speed and skill to create problems for opposing blue lines. The -111 line suggests the market gives a very slight lean to Philly on home ice, which is fair for a team that plays noticeably better at Wells Fargo Center than on the road. The Flyers' energy level at home is consistently higher, and that extra gear can be the difference in a game between two evenly matched teams.

The 5.5 total is the lowest on the entire Thursday slate, which tells you the market expects a tight, low-scoring affair. Both teams have been involved in their share of 3-2 and 2-1 games this season, and neither offense is efficient enough to consistently put up four or five goals against competent opposition. The goaltending matchup will likely determine the outcome, and whichever netminder has the better night is going to give his team a significant edge in a game where every save matters. This won't be the most exciting game on the board tonight, but it could be one of the most competitive.

Alex Ovechkin brings his goal-scoring legacy to the Prudential Center for a Metropolitan Division matchup against a Devils team that has seen its playoff hopes evaporate over the past month. New Jersey sits at 38-34-2, a full 10 points outside of a postseason berth, and the disappointment around this franchise is palpable. The Devils were supposed to take a step forward this season after investing heavily in their roster, but inconsistency, defensive lapses, and a brutal stretch in the middle of the season derailed everything. Washington is a slight road underdog at +104, which is a curious line for a Capitals team that has been competitive throughout the season.

The Capitals continue to ride the Ovechkin show, with the Great Eight still chasing Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record and showing zero signs of slowing down in his pursuit of history. Every game Ovechkin plays now carries the weight of hockey immortality, and opposing fans are coming to the arena not just to root for their team but to witness one of the greatest goal scorers of all time potentially inch closer to the record. Washington's season hasn't been perfect, but the Caps have remained relevant in large part because of their captain's relentless pursuit of goals and the team's willingness to battle every night.

New Jersey's home ice hasn't been the fortress they needed it to be this season. The Devils have struggled to protect leads, convert on the power play in crucial moments, and get the kind of goaltending that steals games against quality opponents. Jack Hughes has been brilliant individually, but one player can only do so much when the team around him isn't firing on all cylinders. The -117 line gives the Devils a slight edge at home, and that's fair for a team that still possesses significant offensive talent. But Washington at +104 is an interesting value play, especially with Ovechkin motivated by history and the Caps playing loose with nothing to lose.

The total is set at 6, reflecting the expectation of a moderately paced game with some offensive fireworks but enough structure to keep the scoring in check. Both teams have capable goaltenders who can string together strong stretches, and the Metro Division familiarity between these clubs means there won't be any surprises in terms of systems or tendencies. Washington knows how to play the Devils, and the Devils know Washington's game inside and out. This should be a well-played, competitive hockey game from start to finish, and the +104 on Washington is the kind of number that smart bettors will circle on a loaded Thursday night.

This is the most lopsided moneyline on the entire Thursday slate, and it isn't particularly close. Minnesota at -393 is the kind of price you usually see reserved for the Avalanche hosting a tanking team or the Hurricanes at home against a rebuilding opponent. The Wild have been one of the best stories in the NHL this season, and Kirill Kaprizov's candidacy for the Hart Trophy has been the driving force behind a team that has exceeded every preseason expectation. Xcel Energy Center is going to be raucous tonight, and the Canucks are walking into one of the most hostile environments in hockey with absolutely no margin for error.

Vancouver's season has been historically awful, as we've documented throughout this week. The Canucks are the worst team in the NHL by a significant margin, and their road struggles have been even more pronounced than their home woes. Playing at altitude in Denver last night and now traveling to Minnesota for a back-to-back is the kind of schedule that crushes even good teams, and for a Vancouver squad that has been getting outshot, outchanced, and outscored for months, this game has the potential to get ugly in a hurry. The +323 moneyline is massive, but anyone taking Vancouver here is betting purely on randomness, not skill or strategy.

Minnesota's depth has been a revelation this season. It's not just Kaprizov carrying the load, although he's certainly the headliner. The Wild have gotten contributions up and down the lineup, from their defensemen jumping into the rush to their fourth-line forwards winning puck battles and creating turnovers. Marc-Andre Fleury's successor in net has provided stable goaltending, and the penalty kill has been among the best in the Western Conference. This is a complete team that plays hard for 60 minutes, and they don't take nights off against inferior opponents. That's bad news for a Canucks team that needs their opponent to be sloppy to have any chance.

The 6.5 total is interesting given how one-sided this game projects to be. Minnesota is certainly capable of scoring four or five goals against Vancouver's porous defense, but the Wild also have a tendency to tighten things up defensively and limit opponents to one or two goals when they have a comfortable lead. The question is whether the Canucks can score enough to push the game over, and given their offensive struggles all season, that's a tough sell. Minnesota's defensive structure might actually keep this game lower-scoring than the moneyline gap would suggest, because the Wild don't need to take risks when they're up by three goals in the second period.

Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers host the rebuilding Blackhawks at Rogers Place, and the -225 moneyline tells you everything about how the market views this matchup. Edmonton has McDavid chasing the Art Ross Trophy and Leon Draisaitl providing one of the most lethal one-two punches in hockey, and the Oilers at home are a force that very few teams in the league can match. Rogers Place has been electric this season, and the Oilers' offense at home is among the most prolific in the NHL. Chicago is walking into a buzzsaw, and the +201 price tag reflects the significant talent gap between these two rosters.

The Blackhawks are in full rebuilding mode, developing their young prospects and playing for the future rather than the present. Connor Bedard continues to show flashes of the generational talent that made him the first overall pick, and these kinds of road games against the league's best players serve as incredible learning opportunities for a 20-year-old still figuring out his game at the NHL level. Bedard going head-to-head with McDavid is the kind of matchup that hockey fans dream about, even if the overall team dynamics heavily favor Edmonton. The rest of Chicago's roster is thin, though, and the Hawks struggle to compete for a full 60 minutes against teams with Edmonton's firepower.

Edmonton's power play is arguably the most dangerous weapon in the NHL, and Chicago's penalty kill has been suspect enough this season to make the Oilers' man advantage even more terrifying. McDavid and Draisaitl on the power play is essentially an unfair advantage, a 5-on-4 unit that can make even the best penalty killers in the league look foolish. If the Blackhawks take penalties tonight, and they will, Edmonton's power play could turn this game into a rout before the second intermission. The key for Chicago is staying disciplined, but that's easier said than done against an Oilers team that draws penalties with their speed and skill.

The 6.5 total is standard for an Oilers home game, where the pace tends to be fast and the scoring tends to be high. Edmonton doesn't play a lot of boring hockey games, partly because McDavid and Draisaitl generate so many quality chances, and partly because their defensive structure can be leaky enough to give opponents opportunities on the counter. Chicago has the offensive talent with Bedard to take advantage of those lapses, and this could easily be a 5-3 or 6-2 game where Edmonton's talent advantage manifests in bunches. Don't be surprised if this one gets wild in the third period as both teams open things up.

Vegas hosts Calgary in a late-night Pacific Division matchup at T-Mobile Arena, and the Golden Knights are heavy -235 favorites for a reason. The addition of Marner last July has given Vegas a legitimate playmaking winger to complement Jack Eichel and the rest of their skilled forward group, and the Golden Knights have been one of the most dynamic offensive teams in the West all season. T-Mobile Arena is one of the toughest buildings to play in across the entire NHL, with the energy from the crowd and the entertainment factor creating an atmosphere that intimidates visiting teams before the puck even drops.

Marner's impact on the Golden Knights can't be overstated. The former Leaf has seamlessly integrated into Vegas's system, providing elite vision, puck distribution, and defensive responsibility from the wing. His chemistry with Eichel has been outstanding, and the two have formed one of the most dangerous duos in the Western Conference. For Calgary, trying to contain Marner, Eichel, and the rest of Vegas's top six is going to be a monumental challenge, especially on the road where the Flames have struggled to establish any kind of defensive identity this season.

Calgary is in the midst of a frustrating campaign where flashes of competitiveness have been undermined by stretches of sloppy play and inconsistent goaltending. The Flames have some intriguing young talent in their pipeline, and Nazem Kadri continues to provide veteran leadership and offensive production. But the overall roster doesn't have the depth or the defensive structure to compete with elite teams, and Vegas at home falls squarely into the category of elite opposition. The +206 moneyline is hefty, and while Calgary will compete and make this harder than the price suggests, the talent gap is real and it typically shows up over 60 minutes.

The 6 total is set slightly lower than some of the other games tonight, which suggests the market expects Vegas's defensive structure to keep Calgary in check while the Golden Knights' offense does its thing. Vegas has been excellent at limiting opponents' quality chances at home this season, and their goaltending has been reliable enough to backstop the team on nights when the offense takes a period or two to get going. This has the feel of a 4-2 or 3-1 Vegas win where the Golden Knights control the pace from start to finish and Calgary never gets comfortable enough to mount a serious challenge.

In one of the more surprising moneylines of the evening, the Sharks are actually home favorites at -119 against a Maple Leafs team getting +104. That tells you a lot about where both franchises are right now. San Jose, led by the phenomenal Macklin Celebrini, has become a legitimately dangerous team at SAP Center. The 19-year-old phenom has surpassed 100 points this season, putting himself in truly elite historical company, and his presence has transformed the Sharks from a rebuilding afterthought into a team fighting tooth and nail for a wild card berth. Toronto, meanwhile, has been navigating life without their former star playmaker that hasn't been as smooth as they hoped.

Toronto shipped their top playmaker to Vegas last summer, and while the return was designed to reshape the roster around Auston Matthews, the transition has been bumpy at times. Matthews remains one of the purest goal scorers in hockey, but the loss of that elite vision and puck distribution has been felt throughout the lineup. Toronto's power play has dipped, their secondary scoring has been inconsistent, and the overall offensive flow that made them so dangerous in previous seasons hasn't fully materialized with the new personnel. On the road in San Jose, the Leafs are going to need Matthews to be at his absolute best to overcome a Sharks team playing with genuine playoff desperation.

Celebrini is the story here, and he has been the story all season. What this kid is doing at 19 years old is historically remarkable, and the way he's dragged an entire franchise back to relevance through sheer talent and will is something you don't see very often in professional sports. The Sharks' identity is built entirely around their young superstar, and when Celebrini is on his game, SAP Center transforms into one of the loudest, most energized buildings in the NHL. Toronto is going to face a fired-up crowd and a team that believes they can make the playoffs for the first time in years. That's a dangerous combination for any visitor.

The 6.5 total feels right for a game featuring two of the most talented offensive players in hockey going head-to-head. Matthews vs. Celebrini is a marquee individual matchup that could produce fireworks, and neither team's defensive structure is airtight enough to keep this game in the 2-1 range. San Jose's goaltending has been the one question mark all season, and if Toronto can generate volume on the Sharks' netminder, the over becomes very much in play. But Celebrini's ability to take over a game at any moment means the Sharks' offense will be humming, and this could easily turn into a 5-4 classic that hockey fans remember for weeks.

Utah Hockey Club's inaugural season has exceeded virtually every expectation, and they come into Climate Pledge Arena as road favorites at -135 against a Kraken team that has underperformed this season. The franchise formerly known as the Arizona Coyotes has embraced their new identity with remarkable energy, and the fans in Salt Lake City have turned Delta Center into one of the most surprising home-ice advantages in the NHL. But this is a road game in Seattle, and the Kraken have been tough to beat at Climate Pledge Arena despite their overall struggles in the standings. Utah will need to bring their road-warrior mentality to a building that won't give them anything easy.

Seattle's season has been a disappointment by most measures, with the Kraken failing to build on the progress they showed last season. Injuries, inconsistency, and some questionable stretches of defensive play have kept Seattle from establishing themselves as a legitimate playoff contender, and now they're playing out the string in a season that went sideways months ago. But the Kraken have talented pieces, particularly in their forward group, and games against a fellow expansion-era team tend to bring out the competitive spirit. Getting +122 at home isn't a bad number for a Seattle team that plays noticeably better in front of their own fans.

Utah's success this season has been built on a foundation of speed, youth, and goaltending. The Hockey Club has been one of the faster teams in the Western Conference, and their ability to transition from defense to offense in a blink has given opposing teams fits all season. Clayton Keller has been the offensive catalyst, and the supporting cast has stepped up consistently enough to make Utah a tough out every single night. The -135 road price reflects a team that the market respects, and rightfully so. Utah isn't just a cute story; they're a genuinely good hockey team that's going to be a factor in the Western Conference for years to come.

The 6 total is set modestly for a game between two teams that can both generate offense but also play structured hockey in their own zone when needed. Utah's goaltending has been the backbone of their season, and the Kraken's netminding has been solid enough at home to keep games close. This has the feel of a 3-2 or 4-2 game where the team that wins the special teams battle takes the two points. Utah's power play has been improved since the midseason trade deadline additions, and if they can convert on the man advantage, that might be the difference in what projects to be a tightly contested Pacific Division matchup.

The nightcap on Thursday's massive slate brings the Predators to Crypto.com Arena for a matchup between two teams with very different vibes heading into the final stretch. Los Angeles is a slight home favorite at -117, and the Kings desperately need every point they can get in the wild card race. Nashville, on the other hand, has been one of the more confounding teams in the Western Conference this season, capable of looking like a legitimate contender one week and a lottery team the next. The +105 moneyline on Nashville suggests this is essentially a pick'em once you strip away the home-ice advantage.

The Kings have had serious problems at Crypto.com Arena this season, and their home record has been a significant drag on their playoff aspirations. LA simply hasn't been able to translate their road competitiveness into home dominance, and the reasons are hard to pin down. The crowd energy has been inconsistent, the team has played too conservatively with the lead at times, and the defensive breakdowns that cost them on the road are amplified at home where the expectations are higher. Anze Kopitar continues to lead by example in what many expect to be his final NHL season, but the Kings need more than just their captain showing up every night. They need consistent effort from every line, every shift, every period.

Nashville's season has been defined by their goaltending and their power play, both of which have been capable of carrying the team through stretches where the even-strength play has been mediocre. The Predators have enough offensive talent with Filip Forsberg leading the charge to hang with anyone on a given night, and their ability to score on the man advantage makes them dangerous in close games where penalties are being called. Getting +105 on the road against a Kings team that has struggled at home is an attractive number, and Nashville has shown this season that they're more than capable of winning games as underdogs in hostile buildings.

The 6 total is set for another low-scoring affair to close out the Thursday night action, and given the Kings' home tendencies and Nashville's defensive structure, that feels appropriate. Both teams are going to play with urgency, both teams have playoff aspirations on the line, and both teams are going to try to limit mistakes rather than force the action offensively. This has the feel of a grinding, physical game that comes down to the final five minutes, with the goaltenders playing an outsized role in determining the outcome. LA needs this game badly, but Nashville isn't the type of opponent that's going to give them anything for free. The wild card race continues to be absolutely ruthless, and this is the last game of the night that carries genuine postseason implications.