March 7, 2026 serves up an impressive 11-game NHL slate with several compelling matchups that should provide plenty of intrigue for bettors and fans alike. From the Carolina Hurricanes' dominant form facing Calgary to an underdog-heavy day featuring surprise contenders like the Ottawa Senators taking on Seattle, today's NHL predictions showcase the unpredictable nature of this season. Let's dive into our free NHL picks for all the action.
Washington Capitals @ Boston Bruins
This Atlantic Division showdown features two solid teams with nearly identical underlying metrics. The Capitals are riding three wins in their last five games with respectable 48.27% Corsi and 49.24% expected goals percentages. Boston counters with slightly better possession numbers at 47.74% CF%, though their xGF% sits at 44.3%—a notable gap suggesting some regression could be looming for the Bruins.
Goaltending becomes the differentiator here. Jeremy Swayman has established himself as a legitimate Vezina contender with a 23-13-3 record, while Linus Thompson's 21-17-4 mark suggests Washington's netminder hasn't quite reached that elite tier. The Bruins' recent form (2 wins in last 5) isn't inspiring, but home ice and Swayman's excellence give them the edge.
WP Hockey Predictor Pick: Boston Bruins 50.9% | Washington Capitals 49.1%
New York Rangers @ New Jersey Devils
The Rangers arrive as the away underdog with serious statistical disadvantages. New York's 48.02% CF% and 44.76% xGF% paint a picture of a team struggling to generate quality chances. They've won just 2 of their last 5 games, and their overall 3-5-2 record ranks among the league's worst.
New Jersey, conversely, has found their identity with an impressive 53.97% CF% and 55.39% xGF%—elite possession and chance generation numbers. The Devils' 4-6-0 record seems misleading given their underlying dominance, and a 3-win stretch in their last five suggests they're trending upward. Goalie matchup favors the Devils' Jake Markstrom (18-14-1) against Igor Shesterkin's (19-12-6) solid but less dominant season.
WP Hockey Predictor Pick: New Jersey Devils 53.8% | New York Rangers 46.2%
Nashville Predators @ Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo enters this matchup as a legitimate Eastern Conference threat with an outstanding 7-2-1 record and five wins in their last five games. The Sabres' 48.84% CF% is respectable, though their 46.89% xGF% suggests they've had some lucky results recently. Still, Ukko Luukkonen has proven capable in net with a solid 14-7-2 record.
Nashville possesses superior analytics with 50.42% CF% and an impressive 52.8% xGF%, yet their 4-3-3 record and 2-3 recent stretch indicate they're underperforming their metrics. Pekka Saros (22-18-6) carries heavy workload fatigue, and the Predators' inability to convert dominance into wins is concerning heading into Buffalo's hot streak.
WP Hockey Predictor Pick: Buffalo Sabres 55.4% | Nashville Predators 44.6%
Philadelphia Flyers @ Pittsburgh Penguins
The Flyers present an interesting underdog opportunity here. Philadelphia's 47.7% CF% and 49.0% xGF% suggest they're competitive despite a middling 4-4-2 record. Their recent form shows promise with 3 wins in their last 5 games, indicating they may be rounding into form at the right time.
Pittsburgh's superior 50.63% CF% and 54.35% xGF% are genuinely impressive, yet their 5-3-2 record and only 2 wins in their last 5 games reveal another team failing to convert analytics into results. Sidney Crosby and company have elite possession numbers, but consistency issues plague them. Daniel Vladar (19-10-6) gives Philadelphia a slight netminding advantage.
WP Hockey Predictor Pick: Philadelphia Flyers 52.0% | Pittsburgh Penguins 48.0%
Tampa Bay Lightning @ Toronto Maple Leafs
The Lightning arrive as road warriors with legitimate credentials. Tampa's 51.53% CF% and 52.62% xGF% showcase excellent underlying play, supported by a strong 6-4-0 record. Andrei Vasilevskiy remains one of hockey's elite goalies despite a modest 28-10-3 season that barely scratches the surface of his true impact.
Toronto's troubles are well-documented: 3-5-2 record, 46.96% CF%, 47.73% xGF%, and an abysmal 0 wins in their last 5 games. Anthony Stolarz (7-8-3) has limited experience, and the Maple Leafs are in freefall. This matchup reeks of a Lightning bounce-back opportunity against a vulnerable division rival.
WP Hockey Predictor Pick: Tampa Bay Lightning 51.6% | Toronto Maple Leafs 48.4%
Utah Mammoth @ Columbus Blue Jackets
Two well-matched teams square off in this Central Division battle. Utah's 48.91% CF% and 49.73% xGF% align with their 6-4-0 record, suggesting honest metric reflection. Karel Vejmelka (29-16-2) carries an enormous workload with 47 starts already this season.
Columbus boasts an impressive 8-1-1 record with the league's best record, though their underlying numbers (49.19% CF%, 48.5% xGF%) suggest they've outperformed their metrics somewhat. Elvis Merzlikins' absence makes this particularly interesting, as backup Joonas Greaves (20-12-7) takes over. Utah's balanced attack and workload-fresher Vejmelka give them slight value here.
WP Hockey Predictor Pick: Utah Mammoth 50.8% | Columbus Blue Jackets 49.2%
Vancouver Canucks @ Winnipeg Jets
Vancouver's struggles continue with a league-worst 42.04% CF% and 41.99% xGF%, paired with a dismal 2-6-2 record. The addition of a back-to-back disadvantage compounds their misery, and Kaapo Lankinen's 7-20-4 record among the worst in the league.
Winnipeg represents a clear path to victory with their 49.61% CF%, 48.44% xGF%, and respectable 5-2-3 record. Three wins in their last five games and home ice advantage make the Jets heavy favorites despite Connor Hellebuyck's pedestrian 15-16-9 record.
WP Hockey Predictor Pick: Winnipeg Jets 54.8% | Vancouver Canucks 45.2%
Montreal Canadiens @ Los Angeles Kings
Montreal's 47.84% CF% and 47.51% xGF% are unremarkable, yet the Canadiens' 5-2-3 record suggests underlying competitiveness. Sam Montembeault (10-8-4) has performed admirably for a rebuilding team, and Montreal's two wins in their last five games provide modest momentum heading to LA.
Los Angeles' 48.78% CF% and 50.07% xGF% indicate elite chance generation, contradicting their disappointing 3-6-1 record. David Kuemper (15-12-9) has struggled, and the Kings' inability to convert their analytics into wins suggests systemic issues beyond goaltending. Montreal's slight edge in net and consistency makes them a lean candidate.
WP Hockey Predictor Pick: Montreal Canadiens 50.1% | Los Angeles Kings 49.9%
Carolina Hurricanes @ Calgary Flames
Carolina sits atop the league with an exceptional 8-1-1 record and elite 59.67% CF% paired with 55.16% xGF%—among the most dominant underlying profiles in hockey. Four wins in their last five games showcase consistency, though a back-to-back situation provides Calgary an opportunity to catch the Hurricanes fatigued.
Calgary's 3-5-2 record and 1 win in their last 5 games represent a struggling outfit. Damir Kuemper's 17-23-3 record and the Flames' 49.77% CF%, 49.21% xGF% suggest they're simply outmatched. Brent Bussi's elite 25-3-1 record for Carolina provides the goaltending edge as well.
WP Hockey Predictor Pick: Carolina Hurricanes 53.5% | Calgary Flames 46.5%
New York Islanders @ San Jose Sharks
The Islanders come in with respectable credentials: 6-4-0 record, 48.93% CF%, and 44.37% xGF% with three wins in their last five. Ilya Sorokin (22-14-2) provides legitimate goaltending advantage, though his workload mirrors Vejmelka's with excessive minutes.
San Jose's 4-4-2 record masks strong underlying 50.18% CF% and 45.33% xGF%, suggesting the Sharks are due for positive regression. Playing at home with a back-to-back advantage and Vitek Vanecek's (19-16-2) solid performance give San Jose legitimate value as the underdog.
WP Hockey Predictor Pick: San Jose Sharks 53.2% | New York Islanders 46.8%
Ottawa Senators @ Seattle Kraken
Ottawa represents one of this season's surprise success stories with a 7-1-2 record and an outstanding 53.85% CF% paired with a league-leading 60.64% xGF%. Their elite chance generation and three wins in their last five games showcase remarkable consistency. Linus Ullmark (18-8-7) provides premium goaltending.
Seattle's 6-4-0 record looks respectable on the surface, but their 44.75% CF% and 48.22% xGF% reveal underlying vulnerability. Philipp Grubauer (11-8-3) has solid numbers, yet Ottawa's elite analytics and road dominance suggest the Senators will maintain their ascent.
WP Hockey Predictor Pick: Ottawa Senators 52.3% | Seattle Kraken 47.7%
Today's NHL predictions showcase the importance of understanding advanced analytics beyond win-loss records. Several teams are vastly outperforming or underperforming their underlying numbers, creating value opportunities throughout the slate. For detailed breakdowns of every matchup using Corsi, expected goals, high-danger chances, and goalie metrics, try WP Hockey Predictor's free calculator to generate your own personalized picks.