The Senators and the Penguins face-off in a cross-division clash. Welcome back to NHL Predictions here with Last Word On Hockey! Each day, we provide in-depth analysis, insights, and predictions for games around the NHL. In tonight’s matchup, the Ottawa Senators look to build some momentum against a red-hot Pittsburgh Penguins squad.
NHL Predictions: Ottawa Senators vs Pittsburgh Penguins
Head-to-Head: Senators 1-0 Penguins
Time: 7:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Penguins Story
Pittsburgh comes into this game after a 6-5 win over the New York Rangers. With the win, the Penguins have won six straight and are on a nine-game point streak. With a record of 7-1-2 in their last 10, the team’s overall record of 28-14-11 places them second in the Metropolitan Division, with a six-point cushion over the Columbus Blue Jackets, the closest Metro division team outside of the playoffs. Excellent defensive structure, in addition to a hot offence, has led to these results. For a team that was expecting to tank this season, the Penguins have changed expectations to the point of potentially being buyers at this year’s trade deadline.
The depth continues to shine in Pittsburgh with all four lines and all three defensive pairs pitching in no matter who is on them on a given night. The fourth line, Connor Dewar and Noel Acciari, centred by Blake Lizotte, played another great game against the Rangers. Acciari scored twice, while Lizotte and Dewar picked up a pair of assists each in the win. Pittsburgh continues to get contributions from their defence as well. Brett Kulak and Erik Karlsson picked up assists, while recent addition Ilya Solovyov has been rock solid since being acquired from the Colorado Avalanche.
Heading into a back-to-back situation, expect Arturs Silovs to start against the Ottawa Senators, while Stuart Skinner is likely to play against the New York Islanders on Tuesday. Silovs is 10-6-8 this season, with wins in two-straight starts. This is a great time for our disclaimer. Please check social media for the latest lineup news and notes before locking in your daily fantasy starters.
Senators Story
This has not been the season that the Ottawa Senators were hoping for. After finally qualifying for the Stanley Cup Playoffs last year, the Senators seem primed to miss out once again this season. They come into this game with a 4-1 win over the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night. Like the Penguins, Ottawa plays this game as the first half of a back-to-back. Although they are 6-2-2 in their last 10, the Senators are 26-21-7 this season. This record places them tied for third worst in the Eastern Conference, sitting eight points out of a Wild Card spot.
Even with all the struggles Ottawa has faced this season, their star centre Tim Stutzle has managed to put together another spectacular season for the Senators. The former third overall pick has scored 25 goals and 57 points through 54 games this season. The issue has been a lack of depth scoring, however. After Stutzle’s 57 points, Drake Batherson is next on the scoring list with just 46 points. American Olympian defenceman Jake Sanderson, however, has done his part in pitching in from the blueline. He’s scored 10 goals and 44 points through 54 games this season. Watch for Dylan Cozens in this game. He’s scored 18 goals and 41 points, as he looks to establish himself as a top-six forward in Ottawa.
With the return of Linus Ullmark on Saturday night, expect James Reimer to start this game, while Ullmark likely plays the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday. Reimer has gone 2-2-1 this season with an .874 save percentage.
Prediction
Although the Penguins have been playing very well, they’re bound to slow down at some point. The Senators, meanwhile, are fighting for their playoff lives and have put together a good stretch themselves. Expect Ottawa to come out fast against Pittsburgh and eventually get the win in this game.
Prop Bet of the Night
As good as both teams have been playing recently, neither teams are defensive juggernauts, and are both likely to play their backup goalies in this game. Expect a high-scoring one, in which a popular prop bet of goals over seven with odds of +176 is a good bet.
Main Photo: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images
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