It's easy to think of this as a Stanley Cup Finals preview (though when do both top seeds in the conferences ever actually make it thru at the same time to the Finals?). In the first meeting February 1 at Cap One Arena, it was a wild 5-4 OT win for the Jets, as the Caps crawled back from a 3-1 deficit and forced the added time on a goal by (who else?) Alex Ovechkin, now just 8 behind Wayne Gretzky's mark of 894. But other Caps are scoring goals lately, too, netting 18 across this current four-game win streak. Meanwhile, the Jets hit tonight's showdown over in their last three so another shootout at Canada Life Centre wouldn't surprise. Play Caps-Jets Over.

Just in case this is a Finals preview, the Caps might want to send a message after they lost at home to these Jets in OT back on February 1. Winnipeg, however, seems to have less traction lately, with losses in two of three, including a humbling home setback vs. the Sabres on Sunday. That was Eric Comrie in goal; Connor Hellebuyck back in the nets tonight. But this is also a chance for the Caps' Logan Thompson (31-4-5, 2.30 GAA, .917 saves) to make a statement for the Vezina vs. his likely chief rival, Hellebuyck. And, oh yes, Alex Ovechkin's chase of Wayne Gretzky's 894 goals continues to fuel Washington, winner in nine of ten. Play Caps on Money Line.

Another 4-1 loss for Nashville? If that sounds familiar to the Preds fans having breakfast at the Pancake Pantry or in one of the many Waffle Houses around Music City, it should. In Nashville's last three road games, the Preds have fallen short each time, 4-1, most recently at St Louis on Sunday. Season-long scoring issues are mostly to blame, as Nashville hits tonight as the lowest-scoring team in the league, which in October would have been hard to imagine after adding Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault in the offseason. Meanwhile, the hot Canes return home from a highly successful road trip and having won nine of ten, allowing just 12 goals across the nine wins. Play Canes on Puck Line.

Just two wins in eleven have the Red Wings falling into the NHL abyss as their playoff hopes fade in the East. Criss-crossing the country on a odd road trip that first took them to Washington (losing 4-1) and Vegas (losing 6-3) further puts Detroit on the ropes; Petr Mrazek, recently reacquired in goal at the deadline, hasn't been the answer after stopping only 22 of 26 Caps shots in that 4-1 loss at D.C. last Tuesday. (Remember, Mrazek posted a 5.11 GAA for Chicago in four February starts.) Meanwhile, Utah still hangs to the periphery of the West playoff race and off consecutive wins at the Delta Center vs. the Sabres and Lightning when scoring a combined 11 goals Play Utah on Puck Line

That brief Boston rally after the trade deadline seems a long time ago. Five straight losses have followed, just nine goals scored in the process, and no more Brad Marchand (who had been out before the trade deadline anyway) to offer much relief. This road trip to the Western Conference has also been a bumpy one, limp efforts in losses to VGK (5-1) and San Jose (3-1). Meanwhile, if they're playing at Crypto.com, it makes sense to look a the Kings, who reminded of their home prowess in yesterday's 7-2 domination of Carolina, as Andrei Kuzmenko recorded his first points (goal and assist) since being added from the Flyers at the deadline. LA is now 24-3-4 at home this season. Play Kings on Puck Line

The Wings don't look in the best shape at the moment; with two wins in their last ten, they've started to peel from East playoff contention. The offense has been mostly stagnant the past few weeks, again on Tuesday at Washington in a 4-1 loss. Dylan Larkin's first-period goal was all the Wings could muster. In the six losses in their last eight, the Wings haven't managed to score more than two goals. Thus, the Puck Line seems teed up for the Golden Knights, still fighting for first place in the Pacific (and avoiding the Oilers in the first round), sharp in their return home Thursday night vs. the Bruins in a 5-1 romp helped by Pavel Dorofeyev's hat trick. Play VGK on Puck Line

The Preds continue to nosedive, losing four straight while scoring just three goals across this slump. The last two of those were limp 4-1 loss at Bridgestone vs. the Blues and Ducks, but Andrew Brunette seems to be doing nothing different, once again sending a beleaguered Juuse Saros (now 16-27-6 this season) out in goal and hoping to post a shutout, otherwise it likely won't be enough. Nashville now ranks bottom in NHL scoring (paltry 173 goals). Meanwhile the Leafs hit tonight fighting for the top spot in the Atlantic, and unlike the Preds, Toronto is winning (three straight) and scoring (12 goals last three), with John Tavares netting twice in Thursday's 4-3 win at the Rangers. Play Maple Leafs on Puck Line

Utah hasn't been able to make up much ground in the race for the last West playoff spot. Salt Lake City also hasn't provided the sort of panacea the Hockey Club had wished; Utah has only won 14 of 34 games at Delta Center (14-13-7), with better success on the road. Though the offense awakened in the 7-3 win over erratic Buffalo on Thursday, for the most part the scoring effort has been inconsistent, as the case in Tuesday's 7-1 loss at Edmonton. All troubling for the visit of the Lightning, winners three straight and 13 of 17, with Andrei Vasilevskiy solid in goal in each win in the current uptick, and a winner in 12 of his last 15 starts. Play Lightning on ML

Red flag alert for Columbus, which has completely stalled and its playoff hopes now dwindling in a five-game losing streak featuring a very numbing offensive performance...try one goal across the last four games. Not each game, that's total!. Three shutout losses included and wasting some good work in goal the past two games from Jet Greaves (a 2-1 loser on Monday vs. the Devils) and Elvis Merzlikins (1-0 loss, in OT no less, to Florida on Monday). Meanwhile, the Penguins have amazingly stayed on the fringe of East wild card contention, but need two points almost every game from here out. Pittsburgh still kicks because of a recent four-game win streak scoring 18 of the "G-word" (goals) in the uptick. Play Penguins on Puck Line

A real potential four-pointer here in the race for the last West playoff. More precarious tonight for the Blues, as though level with the Canucks on 75 points, Vancouver has a game--in-hand; barring OT, ST Louis could go two points up, or two points down, to Vancouver with one fewer game to play. Vancouver, winner in three of four, will be leaning on GK Kevin Lankinen, who has been only so-so in the nets this month (4-4-0, 2.63 GAA, .888 saves). Meanwhile, the Blues have been in a playoff push since the 4 Nations break, winners in 9 of 12, and GK Jordan Binnington on a hot streak dating to the 4 Nations, winning eight of his last ten starts. Play Blues on Money Line

A chance to lock any sort of a plus price on the Caps in this matchup is worth a long look. First, the visiting Flyers, who have dropped from playoff contention in the East, losing seven of eight. The offense has stalled, blanked in back-to-backs by the Canes and Lightning, and scoring just eight times across those seven losses. Samuel Ersson in goal is almost forced to record a shutout in every game for Philly to have a chance. Meanwhile, Washington surges, winning seven of eight, and Alex Ovechkin moving closer to Wayne Gretzky's goal record. Charlie Lindgren gives Logan Thompson a rest in goal, though Lindgren has fared well enough in March starts, with a2.28 GAA and .908 saves. Play Caps on Puck Line

We haven't seen Seattle win back-to-back nights on the road all season and doubt we see it tonight, either. Dan Bylsma switched up goalies on us last night, opting for Joey Daccord at Chicago in the first of back-to-backs, but tonight it will be Philipp Grubauer. who has won both of his March starts but was ineffective prior. Such as February, when enduing a miserable 0-5-1, 4.73 GAA, and .827 saves in six starts. The Wild aren't scoring a lot of goals lately but the defense was more than good enough in Monday's 3-1 win over the Kings, and Filip Gustavsson in goal looks a better bet than Grubauer, with Gustavsson posting superb March numbers (1.98 GAA and .929 saves). Play Wild on Puck Line.

After a bumpy road trip, the Blackhawks are glad to be back at United Center where they won 2 of 3 on their last homestand. Also tonight, apparently in goal is recently-added ex-Panther Spencer Knight, who's impressed in four Chicago starts with a 2.20 GAA and .928 saves. Back to his last three starts with Florida, Knight has won five of his last seven starts. Meanwhile, Seattle battles inconsistency and has been a poor investment (13-19-0) on the road. Though making a mild recovery with a pair of wins in his march starts, Philipp Grubauer has also endured a tough time in the Kraken goal, evidence by his 0-5-1 mark in February with a 4.73 GAA and .826 saves. Play Blackhawks on Money Line

Nashville might get our vote as the NHL's most disappointing side. The offense can't budge, which wasn't supposed to be an issue after adding Jonathan Marchessault and Steven Stamkos in the offseason. The result has been the lowest-scoring offense in the NHL (tied with Calgary at only 171 goals in 66 games). Meanwhile, the Blues are making a real charge at a West wild card spot with wins in 8 of 11, and the offense has been firing on all cylinders lately, piling up 12 goals across the last two games, wins over the Wild and Ducks. Joel Hofer likely gets the start in goal after excellent work vs the Wild in the 5-1 win last Saturday. Play Blues on Puck Line

Playoff buzz is in the air tonight at Montreal in a game that likely trades in a tight window.. The Sens have been flying since the 4 Nations break and hit Bell Centre tonight having won six in a row. A lot of that due to Linus Ullmark, who is 6-0-1 in goal this month with .913 saves as Ottawa's sold defense has allowed only 14 goals in the win streak. Meanwhile, the Canadiens returned home from a Western Conference road trip and proceeded to douse the Panthers, 3-1, as Sam Montembeault stopped 21 shots in goal. Montembeault has also won six of his last seven starts and has a 2.20 GAA and .926 saves in March. Hot goalies suggest lower scoring! Play Senators-Canadiens Under