Red Wings Visit Predators in Rare Weekday NHL Matinee

Detroit and Nashville face off in a key late-season matchup with playoff implications

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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The Detroit Red Wings visit the Nashville Predators on Monday afternoon in a rare weekday NHL matinee game. Both teams feature top European stars, including the Red Wings' Lucas Raymond and the Predators' Filip Forsberg and Juuse Saros. The game was moved up to 2 p.m. ET to showcase the European players in primetime back in their home countries. The Red Wings hold the East's top wild card spot, while the Predators are trying to climb back into the playoff race in the West.

Why it matters

This late-season matchup between the Red Wings and Predators has major playoff implications, as both teams are fighting for postseason positioning. The game also represents a unique opportunity for the NHL to showcase its international talent to European audiences during primetime hours in those countries.

The details

The Red Wings are -115 favorites with a total of 6.5 goals. Detroit forward Lucas Raymond leads his team with 62 points, while Nashville center Filip Forsberg is second on the Predators with 48 points and is a rumored trade target ahead of the deadline. Predators goalie Juuse Saros was a standout for Finland at the recent Olympics, going 4-2-0 with a 1.66 goals-against average and .940 save percentage. Both teams had multiple players represent their home countries at the Milan Cortina Olympics and the 2025 NHL Global Series in Sweden.

  • The game is scheduled for a rare 2 p.m. ET start on Monday, March 2, 2026.
  • The game was originally set for an 8 p.m. ET start but was moved up to showcase the European players in primetime back in their home countries.

The players

Lucas Raymond

A star forward for the Detroit Red Wings who leads the team with 62 points and represented Team USA at the recent Olympics.

Filip Forsberg

A center for the Nashville Predators who is second on the team with 48 points and is a rumored trade target ahead of the deadline. He represented Team Sweden at the Olympics.

Juuse Saros

The starting goaltender for the Nashville Predators, he had a standout performance for Team Finland at the Olympics, going 4-2-0 with a 1.66 goals-against average and .940 save percentage.

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What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This late-season matchup between the Red Wings and Predators showcases the NHL's growing international appeal, with several key European stars taking the ice. The game's unique afternoon timeslot is an effort by the league to reach new audiences back in Europe, where many of these players hail from.