NHL Previews Today

Montreal at 47-23-10 with 104 points has been one of the best stories in the entire NHL this season, and the Canadiens are still pushing hard for the Atlantic 2 seed with Buffalo sitting at 106 points just two points ahead. Every game matters for Montreal down the stretch, and a win here would keep the pressure squarely on the Sabres in what has become a thrilling two-team race for second place in the Atlantic Division. The Canadiens have earned their 104 points through a combination of elite goaltending, a balanced offensive attack, and the kind of team-first culture that makes playoff teams dangerous. This is a squad that believes in itself, and with the Atlantic 2 seed still very much within reach, Montreal isn't going to coast into the postseason.

The Islanders at 43-32-5 with 91 points are chasing a Metro 3 spot and trailing Philadelphia in the standings, so New York has its own motivation here. This isn't an eliminated team going through the motions. The Isles need points to stay alive in the playoff race, and UBS Arena has been a tough building for visitors all season. Ilya Sorokin in net gives the Islanders a legitimate chance to steal any game, and his ability to keep the score close against high-powered offenses has been the backbone of New York's season. The pick'em moneyline at -110 on both sides tells you everything you need to know about how the market views this matchup. These are two evenly matched teams with significant playoff implications on the line for both sides.

The goaltending duel between Fowler for Montreal and Sorokin for New York has the potential to be the story of this game. Both netminders have been excellent this season, and in a game where both teams are playing with playoff desperation, you can expect tight checking and limited space through the neutral zone. The 6.5 total suggests the market thinks there's enough offensive talent on both sides to produce goals, but don't be surprised if this turns into a lower-scoring affair driven by goaltending and defensive structure. Montreal's two-way game has been their calling card all year, and the Islanders under their system play a style that can suffocate teams that rely on transition offense.

What makes this game particularly intriguing is the playoff positioning chess match happening in real time across the Eastern Conference. Montreal winning here doesn't just help the Canadiens, it also hurts the Islanders in the Metro race. And New York winning doesn't just help their own cause, it potentially creates breathing room for other teams chasing Atlantic positioning. These are the kinds of interconnected storylines that make the final week of the NHL season so compelling. Both teams are playing for something meaningful, both have the talent to win, and the pick'em line reflects a genuine toss-up that could go either way based on which goaltender has the better night.

Ottawa at 43-27-10 with 96 points is sitting in the WC2 position and cannot afford to let up with Boston and Columbus breathing down their necks. The Senators have put together a remarkable season that has them on the verge of their first playoff appearance in years, and the franchise's young core has finally started to deliver on the promise that Ottawa's front office has been betting on. At 96 points, the Senators are in a position of strength, but nothing is guaranteed when you're only 4 points ahead of Columbus and tied with a Boston team that, despite its current losing streak, has the talent to rattle off wins in a hurry. Ottawa needs to keep banking points, and a road game against an eliminated Devils team looks like a golden opportunity on paper.

New Jersey at 41-36-3 with 85 points has been eliminated from playoff contention, and the Devils' season has been one of unfulfilled potential. The biggest blow came when Jacob Markstrom, their number one goaltender, was shut down for the remainder of the season, leaving Nico Daws to handle the crease for the final stretch. That's a significant downgrade in net, and it's reflected in the +110 moneyline that makes New Jersey a modest home underdog despite playing in front of their own fans at the Prudential Center. The Devils still have offensive talent that can create problems for anyone, but without their starting goalie and without anything tangible to play for, the motivation gap between these two teams is massive.

The -130 moneyline on Ottawa feels like a fair price for a team that needs the win visiting a team that doesn't. The Senators have been one of the more consistent road teams in the Eastern Conference this season, and their ability to win away from home has been a key factor in getting them to 96 points. Tim Stutzle, Brady Tkachuk, and the Ottawa offense have the kind of firepower that can exploit a backup goaltender, and with Daws in net for New Jersey, the Senators should be able to generate quality scoring chances. The 6.5 total reflects the expectation of offense, and Ottawa's attack against a weakened Devils defense should be able to push toward four or more goals.

The biggest risk for Ottawa in this game is the classic letdown factor. When you're a team fighting for a playoff spot and you see an eliminated opponent on the schedule, there's a natural tendency to look ahead, to assume the points are already in your pocket before the puck even drops. The Devils still have pride, they still have young players auditioning for next season, and they still have enough talent to make life difficult for teams that don't bring their best effort. But if the Senators play with the urgency that their standings position demands, this should be a game they control from start to finish. Ottawa can't afford charity points right now, and a professional road performance against New Jersey would go a long way toward locking down that WC2 spot.

Vancouver at 23-48-8 with 54 points owns the worst record in the entire NHL, and the Canucks' season has been an absolute catastrophe from start to finish. This is a team that came into the year with some optimism about their rebuild trajectory, and instead they've delivered the kind of season that gets people fired from top to bottom. At 54 points with the regular season winding down, Vancouver is playing purely for pride and draft lottery positioning at this point. The +245 moneyline reflects the enormous talent gap between these two teams, and while the Canucks will show up and compete because that's what professional athletes do, the reality is that this is a team that has been overmatched against quality opponents all year long.

Anaheim at 42-32-5 with 89 points is holding down the Pacific 3 spot and fighting to solidify their playoff positioning heading into the final week. The Ducks' resurgence this season has been one of the more pleasant surprises in the Western Conference, and Anaheim's young core has shown the kind of development that gives the franchise legitimate hope for the future. Lukas Dostal has been excellent in net, providing the Ducks with the kind of goaltending that keeps them competitive in tight games, and the team's offensive depth has been a key factor in their ability to pile up wins against teams at the bottom of the standings. The -305 moneyline makes Anaheim a massive favorite, and that's entirely justified given the gap in quality between these rosters.

The puck line at ANA -1.5 (-125) is actually the more interesting number in this game because it's asking whether Anaheim can win by two or more against the league's worst team, and the answer should be yes more often than not. The Ducks have been a strong home team this season, and the Honda Center crowd has embraced this team in a way that hasn't been felt in Anaheim for years. Dostal in goal against Tolopilo for Vancouver is a significant goaltending edge, and Anaheim's forwards should be able to create chances at will against a Canucks defensive structure that has been porous all season. Vancouver has been competitive in some games this year, but the Canucks simply don't have the depth or consistency to keep up with a team of Anaheim's caliber over a full 60 minutes.

For Anaheim, this is a business trip. Get in, get the two points, and move on to whatever comes next. The Ducks can't afford to overlook anyone with their playoff positioning still being determined, but this is about as favorable a matchup as you'll find on the Sunday slate. Vancouver's season is a cautionary tale about what happens when the rebuild goes sideways, and the Canucks are counting down the days until the offseason when they can start putting the pieces together for a more competitive future. In the meantime, Anaheim should handle this one comfortably and continue their push toward home ice in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

Utah at 42-31-6 with 90 points has clinched the WC1 spot in the Western Conference, and the Mammoth can play this one with the comfort of knowing their playoff position is secured. That's a luxury that very few teams on this Sunday slate can afford, and it creates an interesting dynamic for this game. Does Utah rest key players and start preparing for the first round? Or do they try to build momentum and keep their game sharp heading into the postseason? The -162 moneyline suggests the market believes Utah will still compete at a high level regardless of the circumstances, and that's a testament to the organizational culture that has been built in Salt Lake City during the franchise's first full season.

Calgary at 32-38-9 with 73 points has been eliminated from playoff contention, and the Flames' season has been a disappointing one for a franchise that was hoping to be more competitive in a wide-open Western Conference. The Saddledome has seen better days, and the Calgary faithful have spent much of this season watching a team that doesn't quite have enough talent at the top of the roster to compete with the league's best. The +136 moneyline makes the Flames a moderate home underdog, and that's a reasonable price for an eliminated team that still has enough skill to compete on home ice. Calgary's young players will be motivated to finish the season strong and show the front office that they belong in the NHL going forward.

The 5.5 total is the lowest on the entire Sunday slate, and that tells you the market expects a tighter, more defensive game than the other five matchups on the board today. Utah has been built on structure and defensive responsibility all season, and even with their playoff spot clinched, the Mammoth aren't going to abandon the principles that got them here. Calgary's offense has been inconsistent all year, and the Flames' inability to score consistently has been one of the primary reasons they're already eliminated. When you combine Utah's defensive identity with Calgary's offensive struggles, a lower-scoring game makes a lot of sense.

For the broader NHL picture, the most fascinating storyline of this entire regular season might be the fact that the defending back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers are eliminated at just 80 points while the expansion-era Utah Mammoth have clinched a playoff spot in their first year. That's the beauty of hockey's parity. The Panthers' fall from grace has been stunning, and it serves as a reminder that nothing is guaranteed in this league, no matter how many championships you've won. Utah's accomplishment is remarkable, and regardless of what happens in this game against Calgary, the Mammoth have already exceeded every reasonable expectation for a franchise in its inaugural NHL season. This nightcap closes out a Sunday slate that has delivered exactly what the final week of the regular season is supposed to: meaningful hockey with playoff implications in almost every game.