Facing each other for the fourth and final time this season, the Florida Panthers and the Ottawa Senators face off at Canadian Tire Centre. Fox SportsNet Florida will broadcast this divisional matchup, which gets underway at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 28.
Florida Panthers vs. Ottawa Senators Odds
Ottawa (+120) is playing the role of underdog to Florida (-140) and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 7 goals. The line for betting that total stands at -125 over, +105 under.
Florida is 33-44 straight up (SU) and has lost 17.2 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 77 regular season contests, 44 of its games have gone over the total, while 26 have gone under and just seven have pushed. The Panthers are 14-25 SU as the away team in 2018-19.
Florida comes into the match up with the second-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s found the net on 27.4 percent of its extra-man advantages this year. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 17th in the league, and it’s successfully killed off 80.5 percent of all penalties.
Florida, as a collective unit, has been whistled for penalties 3.4 times per game overall in the 2018-19 season, 3.8 per game over its past five matchups total, and 3.4 per game over its last five on the road. The team’s been forced to defend opponent power plays 8.6 minutes per game over their last five road outings.
Sporting a .897 save percentage and 25.0 saves per game, Roberto Luongo (16-23-5) has been the best option in goal for Florida this year. If it decides to give him a rest, however, head coach Bob Boughner might turn to James Reimer (14-22-6 record, .900 save percentage, 3.09 goals against average).
Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau will both lead the offensive attack for the visiting Panthers. Barkov (88 points) is up to 34 goals and 54 assists, and has recorded two or more points 26 times. Huberdeau has 25 goals and 59 assists to his name (and has logged at least one point in 45 games).
On the other side of the rink, Ottawa is 27-49 straight up (SU) and has lost 5.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 76 regular season matches, 40 of its games have gone over the total, while 31 have gone under and just five have pushed. It’s 17-20 SU at home this year.
Ottawa has converted on 20.4 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 22nd overall, and it’s successfully killed off 79.3 percent of all opponent power plays.
The Senators have been penalized only 3.4 times per game this season, and 2.4 per game over their last five match ups. The team has had to kill penalties just 6.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Craig Anderson has stopped 30.8 shots per game as the primary choice in goal for Ottawa. Anderson has 16 wins, 31 losses, and four OT losses to his name and has registered a poor .904 save percentage and 3.46 goals against average this year.
Mark Stone (28 goals, 34 assists) will pace the attack for the Senators.
Florida Panthers at Ottawa Senators Betting Predictions
Free NHL Tip: SU Winner – Panthers, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- For both of these teams, the game went over the total in three of their past five outings.
- The Panthers have averaged the league’s fifth-most shots on goal (33.0) and Ottawa has attempted the 24th-most (only 29.9).
- Extra-man opportunities may prove to be extremely important in tonight’s matchup. The Panthers are 18-22 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 22-31 when they’re in the box for fewer than 10 penalty minutes, total. The Senators are 14-16 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 22-33 in games where they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
- Florida (3-6 in shootouts this season) has significantly more experience in games decided by shootout. Ottawa fell short in its one shootout this season.
- Ottawa skaters have forced 8.0 takeaways per game over its last five home games, a slight drop from its season average of 7.5 takeaways per game (ranked 19th).
- Florida has allowed 3.5 goals per game overall this year, but is allowing 6.7 goals per contest over its last three games (0-3 SU over that span).
- One of the best at disrupting opposing offenses, Florida is ranked fourth with 9.1 takeaways per game. That figure has trended down recently, however, as it has averaged 7.6 takeaways over its last 10 games and 8.6 takeaways over its last five.
