The New Jersey Devils, led by Kyle Palmieri and Taylor Hall, are preparing to take the ice against Anthony Duclair, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, and the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre for an Eastern Conference matchup. The action will get started at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, December 29, and you are able to catch the game live on Reseau Des Sports.
New Jersey Devils at Ottawa Senators Odds
With a moneyline of -135, Ottawa enters the game as the favorite. The line for the Devils now stands at +115, and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at an even 6 goals (-110 over, -110 under).
Ottawa is 16-22 straight-up (SU) and has lost 0.6 units for moneyline bettors thus far. That early-season winning percentage is a welcomed improvement compared to how the team performed during last year’s regular season (29-53). Through 38 regular season matches, 20 of the team’s games have gone over the total, while 18 have gone under and none have pushed. The team is 11-6 SU at home this year.
The Senators have converted on just 11.8 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that places them in the bottom- overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked ninth overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 82.6 percent of all penalties.
Averaging 28.5 saves per game with a .908 save percentage, Anders Nilsson (9-11-2) has been the most dependable goalkeeper for the Sens this year. If the Sens choose to rest him, however, Ottawa could turn to Craig Anderson (6-11-11 record, .909 save percentage, 2.88 goals against average).
New Jersey has lost 12.9 units for moneyline bettors this year and is currently 12-25 straight up (SU). 20 of its outings have gone over the total, while 16 have gone under the total and just one has pushed. As the away team, the Devils are 7-11 SU so far.
The Devils have converted on just 14.3 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that places them in the bottom-five overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 18th overall and it’s successfully killed off 79.8 percent of all penalties.
MacKenzie Blackwood (26.4 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for New Jersey. Blackwood owns an 11-17-5 record, and has registered a .907 save percentage and 2.89 goals against average this year.
New Jersey Devils at Ottawa Senators Betting Picks
NHL Prediction: SU Winner – Senators, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Over Ottawa’s last ten outings, four of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 3-1 in those games).
- Extra-man opportunities may prove to be critical in tonight’s game. The Devils are 5-11 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 6-15 when they’re in the box for fewer than 10 penalty minutes, in total. The Senators are 5-9 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 7-11 in games where their penalty minutes are in the single digits.
- New Jersey (1-4 in shootouts) has more experience this season in games decided by shootout. Ottawa has yet to win a shootout this year (0-2).
- For both of these clubs, the game went over the total in four of their past five matchups.
- New Jersey skaters have averaged 7.2 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 9.1 giveaways per game (the ninth-fewest in the NHL).
- Ottawa skaters have averaged 13.0 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 10.9 giveaways per game (ranked 21st overall).
- The Senators this season have tallied the fifth-most hits in the NHL (26.4 per game).
