NHL March 3, 2026

This is about as close to a true pick'em as you'll find on tonight's board. Florida at -110 and New Jersey at -109 are essentially even money, and the market is telling you that neither team has a meaningful edge in this one. Both squads are fighting for their lives in the Eastern Conference, and both are dealing with significant absences that have altered the trajectory of their seasons. This is a TNT game that might not have the star power of the Tampa-Minnesota matchup later, but the stakes and the desperation factor make it must-watch hockey.

Florida at 30-27-3 with 63 points is a far cry from the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions that dominated the last two postseasons. Aleksander Barkov has been out all season after ACL/MCL surgery, and Seth Jones is also sidelined. Those are two cornerstone players, and losing them has transformed the Panthers from perennial favorites into a team fighting to stay relevant. Anton Lundell has returned, which helps, but the Panthers sit 12 points out of a wild card spot, and the math is getting increasingly grim. Every game from here on out is essentially an elimination game for Florida.

New Jersey at 29-29-2 with 60 points has had its own disaster of a season. Dougie Hamilton is done for the year after a pectoral injury, and Jonas Siegenthaler is also out for the season. Those defensive losses have been devastating, and the Devils' blue line has been a sieve for stretches of this campaign. The silver lining? New Jersey snapped a painful 5-game losing streak on Saturday, which at least stops the bleeding heading into this nationally televised matchup. The Devils have gone under in 7 of their last 7 games, which is a staggering trend that speaks to how tight and low-event their recent games have been.

The 5.5 total is the lowest on tonight's board, and it makes perfect sense given the context. Both teams are playing tight, desperate hockey with depleted rosters, and neither offense has been firing consistently enough to expect a high-scoring affair. New Jersey's 7-of-7 under trend is hard to ignore, and Florida's offense without Barkov is a shadow of what it was during their championship runs. This game has "2-1 grinder" written all over it, and the pick'em moneyline means the market sees it as a genuine toss-up where the team that makes fewer mistakes will walk away with two points.

Utah at 31-25-4 with 66 points currently holds a top wild card position in the Western Conference, and the Hockey Club has been one of the more intriguing stories of the 2025-26 season. In just their second year of existence after relocating from Arizona, Utah has built a competitive roster that's been in the playoff hunt all season. This is a team that plays with an edge and an identity, and they've earned the respect of the market, which has them as only slight underdogs at +105 despite playing on the road at Capital One Arena.

Washington at 31-24-7 with 69 points has been a solid but unspectacular team this season. The Capitals have dealt with some health concerns, as John Carlson has been nursing a lower-body issue and his status for tonight is uncertain. Alex Ovechkin had a maintenance day recently but is expected to be in the lineup, because of course he is. The man is still chasing Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record, and nothing short of a catastrophic injury is keeping him off the ice. Logan Thompson has been confirmed as the starter in net, and his performance between the pipes will be a key factor in a game that's expected to have some offensive fireworks.

The 6.5 total is the highest number on tonight's 7 PM slate, and the market is clearly expecting an up-tempo game between two teams that can score. Both Utah and Washington have offenses that can put pucks in the net in bunches, and neither defense has been airtight enough this season to consistently hold opponents to low totals. Washington's home-ice advantage at Capital One Arena is the primary reason they're favored at -125, because on paper, these two teams are remarkably similar in terms of overall quality and results.

What's particularly interesting about this game is the playoff implications for both sides. Utah needs every point they can get to maintain their wild card position in the brutally competitive Western Conference, while Washington is trying to create some separation in the Metro Division race. Both teams have something tangible to play for, which should elevate the intensity and the stakes. The tight moneyline reflects how evenly matched these squads are, and the high total suggests this could be one of the more entertaining games on Tuesday's loaded board.

Columbus at 30-21-8 with 68 points continues to be one of the surprise contenders in the Eastern Conference, and Nationwide Arena has become a genuinely difficult place for visiting teams to play this season. The Blue Jackets are coming off an overtime win, which means they've got momentum and confidence heading into this matchup against a Nashville team that's been trending in the wrong direction. Zach Werenski has been the engine of this Columbus team with 65 points, and he's expected back in the lineup after dealing with an illness, which is a huge boost for a squad that relies heavily on his ability to generate offense from the blue line.

Nashville at 27-25-8 with 62 points is stuck in that frustrating middle ground where they're too good to tank but not quite good enough to feel comfortable about their playoff positioning. The Predators are on a 2-game losing streak, and while Steven Stamkos has been excellent with 30 goals on the season, he can't carry this team alone. Nashville's inconsistency has been the defining story of their season, and they've struggled particularly on the road, where they don't have the comfort of Bridgestone Arena's famously hostile atmosphere to lean on.

The CBJ -127 moneyline tells you the market views Columbus as a moderate home favorite, which tracks with their overall season performance and the fact that they have the better record of the two teams. Nashville at +108 offers a decent number for a team with Stamkos-level scoring talent, but the Predators' recent form and road woes make it hard to trust them in this spot. The 6.5 total suggests the market expects a game with some offense, and both teams have the firepower to deliver on that expectation.

The underlying story here is the playoff race. Columbus at 68 points is building a nice cushion in the Eastern Conference wild card picture, while Nashville at 62 points is looking up at teams and running out of runway to make up ground. That disparity in urgency could be a factor tonight. The Blue Jackets are playing to solidify their position, while the Predators are playing to stay alive. Sometimes that desperation fuels a team, and sometimes it leads to pressing and poor decisions. Werenski's return from illness gives Columbus their full complement of weapons, and at Nationwide Arena, that should be enough to maintain their home-ice edge.

This is a game between two teams that have been grinding through difficult stretches, and neither one is going to inspire a lot of confidence from bettors right now. Chicago at 23-28-9 with 55 points is firmly in the lottery conversation, while Winnipeg at 23-26-10 with 56 points is barely a point better and has been dealing with their own frustrations all season. The Jets are favored at -159 largely because of home ice at Canada Life Centre, but the number isn't nearly as big as you'd expect for a home team against a sub-.500 opponent, which tells you the market doesn't have a ton of faith in either side.

The Blackhawks' season has been about development and finding silver linings, and Tyler Bertuzzi has been the biggest one. With 26 goals and 19 assists, Bertuzzi has been one of the few consistent offensive threats on a Chicago team that's often struggled to score. The Blackhawks are 2-6-2 in their last 10, which is rough, but they just posted a 4-0 shutout over Utah in their most recent game, proving they can still put together a dominant performance when everything clicks. The question is whether that Utah win was a one-off or the start of something more consistent.

Winnipeg is banged up and struggling. Josh Morrissey is out with an upper-body injury, and Nino Niederreiter is sidelined for 4-6 weeks after surgery. Those are significant losses for a team that was already having trouble finding its footing. Mark Scheifele has been doing his part with 27 goals and 43 assists, but the supporting cast hasn't been able to provide enough consistent production to keep the Jets in the playoff picture. The under has hit in 5 of Winnipeg's last 7 games, and the head-to-head history between these two teams has gone under in 8 of the last 11 meetings.

The 5.5 total combined with those under trends makes this one of the more interesting totals on the board tonight. Both teams have struggled offensively at times, both are missing key contributors, and the recent history between these franchises has produced low-scoring affairs more often than not. The WPG -159 moneyline is the least exciting number you'll find on Tuesday's slate, but the under trend is genuinely compelling if you believe that two struggling offenses with depleted lineups will produce a tight, grinding game rather than an offensive showcase.

Here's a game with massive playoff implications, and the fact that both teams are sitting on identical 66-point totals makes it feel like a playoff game already. Ottawa at 29-22-8 and Edmonton at 29-24-8 are mirror images of each other in the standings, and the winner of this one gains a critical edge in the wild card race. Both teams know exactly what's at stake, and the intensity at Rogers Place should reflect the desperation that comes with being this close to the postseason bubble with the stretch run approaching.

Edmonton's offensive firepower is terrifying when it's clicking, and right now, it's clicking at an elite level. Leon Draisaitl has been on an absolute heater with 18 points in his last 10 games, including 6 goals and 12 assists. Evan Bouchard has added 21 points in his last 10 from the blue line, giving Edmonton a two-pronged offensive attack that's nearly impossible to contain. And then there's the power play: at 32.3%, the Oilers have the most dangerous man-advantage unit in the entire NHL. When Edmonton gets a power play, it's not a matter of if they'll score, it's a matter of when.

Ottawa's concern in this matchup is their penalty kill, which has been sitting at a woeful 73.1%. That's a massive vulnerability against the best power play in the league. If the Senators take more than two or three penalties tonight, they're going to be in serious trouble, because Edmonton will cash in on those opportunities. Tim Stutzle has been solid with 12 points in his last 10 games, but he'll need to be even better if Ottawa is going to steal two points on the road in Edmonton.

The 6.5 total is the joint-highest on tonight's slate, and it's well-earned given the offensive talent on both sides and Ottawa's leaky penalty kill. Edmonton at -125 is a moderate home favorite, and the number suggests the market respects Rogers Place as a difficult venue for visiting teams but doesn't see a massive gap between these two clubs. The OTT +115 price is juicy enough to attract some attention, but asking Ottawa's 73.1% penalty kill to survive against a 32.3% power play on the road is asking a lot. This game could easily come down to special teams, and Edmonton has a decisive advantage in that department.

Colorado at 40-10-9 with 89 points is the best team in hockey, and it's not particularly close. Forty wins through 59 games is an astonishing pace, and the Avalanche are tracking toward one of the great regular seasons in modern NHL history. Nathan MacKinnon has been the engine of this juggernaut with 91 points on 41 goals and 51 assists. Yes, 41 goals. MacKinnon leads the entire NHL in goals scored, and his ability to take over games single-handedly makes Colorado the scariest team in the league every single night they take the ice.

But here's where it gets interesting: Anaheim is not the pushover the standings might suggest. The Ducks at 33-23-3 with 69 points are on a scorching 5-game winning streak and are averaging 4.7 goals per game during that run. Leo Carlsson has been a revelation with 20 goals and 28 assists, and Anaheim's home record of 20-8-1 is one of the best in the entire NHL. The Honda Center has become a fortress this season, and the Ducks already proved they can hang with Colorado when they won the previous meeting between these teams 2-1 in a shootout. This is not going to be an easy road game for the Avalanche.

The COL -149 moneyline is lower than you might expect for the league's best team, and that's a direct reflection of how well Anaheim has been playing at home. When a team goes 20-8-1 in their own building and is riding a 5-game heater with nearly 5 goals per game, the market adjusts. The Ducks aren't going to be intimidated by Colorado's record or reputation, and they've already shown they can beat this team. The 6.5 total is the highest number on the late-night portion of the slate, and with both offenses humming right now, there's a real possibility this turns into a track meet.

The contrast in narratives makes this game fascinating. Colorado is the establishment powerhouse, methodical and dominant, grinding through the regular season with the kind of consistency that makes them the clear Presidents' Trophy favorite. Anaheim is the upstart, the team nobody expected to be relevant, riding confidence and home-ice energy into a matchup against the best team in the world. MacKinnon's 41 goals against Anaheim's 4.7 goals per game during the streak is an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object, and late-night hockey fans are going to be treated to a genuinely compelling game at the Honda Center.

Montreal at 33-17-9 with 75 points is having a genuinely impressive season that has the Canadiens firmly in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. This is a team that has come out of the Olympic break looking sharp, winning 2 of 3 games while averaging 4.7 goals per game in those outings. When Montreal's offense is clicking at that kind of rate, they're a nightmare to play against, and they bring that offensive firepower into a trip to San Jose where the Sharks will be looking to pull off an upset in front of their home crowd.

San Jose at 29-25-4 with 62 points has been a pleasant surprise this season, and the Sharks have shown they can compete with quality opponents. They've won their last 2 games, including a 2-1 overtime win over Winnipeg, which shows they can grind out close games and find ways to earn points even when the offense isn't flowing freely. The SAP Center crowd has been engaged this season in a way they haven't been in years, and there's a genuine excitement around this Sharks team that has translated into solid home-ice energy.

The MTL -133 moneyline makes the Canadiens a moderate road favorite, and the number reflects the gap in the standings between a 75-point team and a 62-point team. Montreal has been the better team over the full season, and their recent offensive explosion since returning from the Olympic break gives them an edge in firepower that San Jose will struggle to match. The Sharks are scrappy and well-coached, but they don't have the same top-end talent that Montreal can deploy, especially when the Canadiens' offense is firing on all cylinders.

The 6.5 total is tied for the highest number on the late slate, and it makes sense given Montreal's 4.7 goals per game since the Olympic break and the fact that San Jose's defense has been inconsistent enough to allow quality chances against. This feels like a game where Montreal's offensive talent should be the deciding factor, but the Sharks' home record and recent form mean this won't be a cakewalk. The road trip factor is always a consideration for Eastern Conference teams playing late-night games on the West Coast, and the MTL -133 price accounts for that travel element while still reflecting the Canadiens' overall superiority in the standings.