NHL nationally televised games for week of March 2

Each Monday throughout the 2025-26 NHL season, ESPN and NHL Network analyst Kevin Weekes will provide fans with a guide of games that will be nationally televised. Today, a look at games for the 22nd week of the regular season.

Highlights include the Philadelphia Flyers visiting the Toronto Maple Leafs on "Prime Monday Night Hockey" and two of the top teams in the West, the Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild, facing off.

MONDAY, MARCH 2

Philadelphia Flyers at Toronto Maple Leafs (7:30 p.m. ET; TVAS, Prime, NBCSP)

In this week's "Prime Monday Night Hockey" matchup, Philadelphia heads to Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. The Flyers (27-21-11) are seeking their first three-game winning streak since Nov. 26-29 and enter the week six points behind the Boston Bruins for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the East, after they defeated them 3-1 on Saturday. It will be interesting to see what they do prior to the NHL Trade Deadline on Friday at 3 p.m. ET, if they think they can make a run. The Maple Leafs (27-24-9) are trending toward not making the playoffs for the first time in 10 years and have three wins in 12 games (3-8-1). However, Toronto has won the past five games against Philadelphia and 13 of 14.

TUESDAY, MARCH 3

Tampa Bay Lightning at Minnesota Wild (9:30 p.m. ET; The Spot, HBO MAX, truTV, TNT)

The Lightning (38-16-4) are one of the hottest teams in the League despite losing two straight -- they are 20-3-1 in their past 24 games and lead the Atlantic Division. They recently got Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli back after each had to miss the Olympics because of injuries. I think this could be coach Jon Cooper's best job yet and would have to think he will be a finalist for the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year. It's shocking that he has not only not won it before but has never been a finalist. The Wild (35-16-10) have really been one of the most consistent teams in the League since starting the season 3-6-3. Obviously, the acquisition of Quinn Hughes in December helped, and he's averaging more than a point per game with them (36 points in 29 games), but they have had so much depth scoring up and down the lineup.

THURSDAY, MARCH 5

Buffalo Sabres at Pittsburgh Penguins (7 p.m. ET; ESPN, SNO, SNE, TVAS)

The Sabres (35-19-6) have reeled off three straight wins in four days since returning from the Olympic break and have positioned themselves nicely to break their 14-year playoff drought. In fact, they have played so well, they enter the week four points out of first place in the Atlantic Division. They have 10 players with double-digit goals and both goalies, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon, have played very well this season. I really hope they can make the playoffs because the team, the fans and the city deserve that. The Penguins (31-15-13) are also trying to end their three-season playoff drought and will be without Sidney Crosby for a few weeks because of an injury. They have played well this season and could even be buyers at the deadline. However, if they miss out on the playoffs, the points they lost could be key; Pittsburgh is just 4-13 in games that have gone past regulation, including just one win in nine shootouts.

SATURDAY, MARCH 7

Washington Capitals at Boston Bruins (12:30 p.m. ET; ABC, SN1, TVAS)

This is a big matchup in the East with both teams in the wild card mix. Washington (31-24-7) has played well recently, despite losing their last game, 6-2 at the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday. Alex Ovechkin scored twice in that one to end his seven-game goal drought. I think the Olympic break was really good for him, giving him some time to rest up and prepare for the stretch run and playoffs. Boston (33-21-5) has been one of the surprise teams this year and I like what first-year coach Marco Sturm has done. They're just two points ahead of the Capitals entering the week. I've been impressed with Morgan Geekie, who leads them with 33 goals after he scored 33 last season and could be the first player other than David Pastrnak to lead them in goals since 2020-21.

SUNDAY, MARCH 8

Minnesota Wild at Colorado Avalanche (2 p.m. ET; HBO MAX, truTV, TNT, TVAS)

This is a huge matchup in the Central Division and the second time the teams will meet this season. The Avalanche (39-10-9) were absolutely dominating everyone but are just .500 in their past 18 games (8-8-2). They've also lost to Minnesota twice this season, including 5-2 at home on Thursday and are not running away with the division anymore. I'm not worried about them since they have one of the best rosters in the NHL and have a handful of players who are still recovering from playing at the Olympics, but perhaps this rough stretch is good for them to experience before the playoffs. The Wild are only seven points back and it would be a huge boost for them to defeat the Avalanche for the third time in four tries this season.

OTHER NATIONALLY TELEVISED GAMES

MONDAY

Detroit Red Wings at Nashville Predators (2 p.m. ET; FDSNDET, FDSNSO, NHLN)

Columbus Blue Jackets at New York Rangers (7 p.m. ET; FDSNOH, NHLN, MSG)

TUESDAY

Florida Panthers at New Jersey Devils (7 p.m. ET; HBO MAX, SCRIPPS, TNT)

WEDNESDAY

Toronto Maple Leafs at New Jersey Devils (7 p.m. ET; HULU, ESPN+, SN, TVAS)

St. Louis Blues at Seattle Kraken (10 p.m. ET; HULU, ESPN+) 

THURSDAY

New York Islanders at Los Angeles Kings (9:30 p.m. ET; ESPN, SNP, SNO, SNE, TVAS)

FRIDAY

Florida Panthers at Detroit Red Wings (7 p.m. ET; FDSNDET, SCRIPPS, NHLN, SNE, TVAS)

SATURDAY

New York Rangers at New Jersey Devils (3 p.m. ET; ABC, SN1, SN)

Tampa Bay Lightning at Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET; CBC, SNO, NHLN, The Spot)

Vancouver Canucks at Winnipeg Jets (7 p.m. ET; SNW, SNP)

Montreal Canadiens at Los Angeles Kings (7 p.m. ET; FDSNW, KCAL, SNE, CITY, TVAS)

Carolina Hurricanes at Calgary Flames (10 p.m. ET; CBC, SNW, SNP, FDSNSO)

SUNDAY

Boston Bruins at Pittsburgh Penguins (4:30 p.m. ET; HBO MAX, truTV, TNT, SNW, TVAS)

Detroit Red Wings at New Jersey Devils (7 p.m.; ESPN)

Edmonton Oilers at Vegas Golden Knights (9:30 p.m. ET; ESPN, SNW)