Archive note: Technical commentary has been removed. This remains historical pregame coverage; original selections have been retained where stated.
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
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 | Washington Capitals
New York Rangers @ New Jersey Devils
The Rangers arrive as the away underdog with serious statistical disadvantages. They've won just 2 of their last 5 games, and their overall 3-5-2 record ranks among the league's worst.
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 | New York Rangers
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. Still, Ukko Luukkonen has proven capable in net with a solid 14-7-2 record.
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 | Nashville Predators
Philadelphia Flyers @ Pittsburgh Penguins
The Flyers present an interesting underdog opportunity here. Their recent form shows promise with 3 wins in their last 5 games, indicating they may be rounding into form at the right time.
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 | Pittsburgh Penguins
Tampa Bay Lightning @ Toronto Maple Leafs
The Lightning arrive as road warriors with legitimate credentials. 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.
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 | Toronto Maple Leafs
Utah Mammoth @ Columbus Blue Jackets
Two well-matched teams square off in this Central Division battle. Karel Vejmelka (29-16-2) carries an enormous workload with 47 starts already this season.
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 | Columbus Blue Jackets
Vancouver Canucks @ Winnipeg Jets
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.
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 | Vancouver Canucks
Montreal Canadiens @ Los Angeles Kings
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.
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 | Los Angeles Kings
Carolina Hurricanes @ Calgary Flames
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. Brent Bussi's elite 25-3-1 record for Carolina provides the goaltending edge as well.
WP Hockey Predictor Pick: Carolina Hurricanes | Calgary Flames
New York Islanders @ San Jose Sharks
Ilya Sorokin (22-14-2) provides legitimate goaltending advantage, though his workload mirrors Vejmelka's with excessive minutes.
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 | New York Islanders
Ottawa Senators @ Seattle Kraken
Their elite chance generation and three wins in their last five games showcase remarkable consistency. Linus Ullmark (18-8-7) provides premium goaltending.
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 | Seattle Kraken