In their second head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the Washington Capitals and the Ottawa Senators collide at Canadian Tire Centre. The opening face-off is at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 29, and you will be able to catch this Eastern Conference matchup live on CBC Sports.
Washington Capitals at Ottawa Senators Odds
Washington (-200) is favored over Ottawa (+170) and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 7 goals. If gamblers want to play the game’s total, they’ll be looking at odds of -115 money on the over and -105 for the under.
Washington is 23-13 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 6.7 units this season. Through 36 regular season matches, 19 of its games have gone over the total, while 15 have gone under and just two have pushed. The Caps are 11-6 SU as the away team in 2018-19.
Washington has converted on 23.5 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s good enough for sixth-best in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 25th in the league, and it’s successfully killed off only 77.1 percent of all penalties.
Washington, as a collective unit, has been sent to the penalty box 3.9 times per game during the 2018-19 season, 4.2 per game over its past five contests total, and 4.0 per game over its last five on the road. The team has been forced to kill penalties 8.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 28.3 saves per game with a .915 save percentage, Braden Holtby (15-11-3) has been the primary option in goal for Washington this year. If head coach Todd Reirden decides to rest him, however, the team may roll with Pheonix Copley (9-3-1 record, .912 save percentage, 2.67 goals against average).
Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom will both lead the offensive attack for the visiting Capitals. Ovechkin has 45 points on 29 goals and 16 assists, and has recorded multiple points 12 times. Backstrom has 10 goals and 32 assists to his name, and has registered at least one point in 25 games.
On the other bench, Ottawa is 15-23 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 0.3 units this year. 24 of its outings have gone over the total, while 10 have gone under and just three have pushed. The team’s 11-9 SU at home this season.
Ottawa has converted on 22.0 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that’s good enough for 10th-best in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 29th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 74.5 percent of all opponent power plays.
Ottawa players have been sent to the penalty box 3.8 times per game this season, and 5.0 per game over their last five outings. The team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays a whopping 14.4 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Craig Anderson (32.0 saves per game) has been the top option in goal for Ottawa. Anderson has 14 wins, 17 losses, and three OT losses and has registered a poor .905 save percentage and 3.58 goals against average this season.
The Sens offense will be led by Mark Stone (17 goals, 24 assists).
Washington Capitals at Ottawa Senators Betting Predictions
Free NHL Pick: SU Winner – Senators, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Two of Washington’s last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 2-0 in those games and 3-1 overall in shootouts this season.
- For both of these clubs, the total has gone over in three of their last five matchups.
- Ottawa has averaged 3.2 goals per game overall this year, but is averaging 1.7 goals per matchup in its last three contests (the team is 0-3 SU over that stretch).
- Six of Washington’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 5-1 in those games.
- Washington skaters recorded 24.2 hits per game last season, while the Senators logged 24.0 hits per matchup.
