In their second head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the Boston Bruins and the Ottawa Senators clash at Canadian Tire Centre in a divisional tilt. The game gets started at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 30 and it can be seen live on Sportsnet.
Boston Bruins at Ottawa Senators Odds
Boston (-150) is currently favored over Ottawa (+130) and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-110 for the over, -110 for the under).
Boston is 20-16 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.1 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 36 regular season outings, 19 of its games have gone under the total, while 17 have gone over and none have pushed. This 2017-18 Bruins team is 7-8 SU on the road.
Boston has converted on 19.3 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s right around league average. Its penalty kill is ranked sixth overall, and it has successfully killed off 83.9 percent of its penalties.
Boston, as a collective unit, has been whistled for penalties 4.2 times per game overall this season, and 3.2 per game over its last five outings. The teams had to kill penalties an unhealthy 14.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 25.0 saves per game with a .920 save percentage, Tuukka Rask (12-12-3) has been the primary option in goal for Boston this season. If it chooses to rest him, however, head coach Bruce Cassidy could turn to Anton Khudobin (8-6-3), who has a .923 save percentage and 2.48 goals against average this year.
David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand will both lead the offensive attack for the visiting Bruins. Pastrnak has 33 points on 15 goals and 18 assists, and has recorded two or more points nine times. Marchand has 15 goals and 17 assists to his nameand has logged at least one point in 20 games.
On the other bench, Ottawa is 12-24 straight up (SU) and has lost 16.6 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 36 regular season contests, 18 of its games have gone over the total, while 17 have gone under and none have pushed. This season, the teams 7-11 SU at home.
Ottawa has converted on just 16.0 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that places it in the bottom 10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 24th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 78.8 percent of all penalties.
Ottawa players have been whistled for penalties only 3.6 times per game in total this season, and 4.6 per game over their past five match ups. The teams been forced to stave off opponent power plays a whopping 13.6 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Craig Anderson (25.2 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for Ottawa. Anderson has 10 wins, 17 losses, and four OT losses to his credit and has maintained a pedestrian 3.12 goals against average and a subpar .896 save percentage this season.
Mark Stone (15 goals, 19 assists) will lead the offensive counter for the Senators.
Boston Bruins vs. Ottawa Senators Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Senators, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- The total has gone over in three of Ottawa’s last five games.
- The Bruins are 8-4 SU when they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Senators are 1-8 SU in games where they serve more minutes than their opponent.
- Two of Boston’s last ten games have gone to a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 2-2 overall in shootouts this season.
- Ottawa has created 7.3 takeaways per game (ranked 16th in the league).
- Boston has created 6.2 takeaways per game over its last five road games, a drop-off from its season average of 10.0 takeaways per game (ranked sixth in the league).
- Boston might hold an advantage if this one comes down to the wire. The teams 9-7 in games decided by one goal, while Ottawa is only 7-13 in such games.
