Anthony Duclair, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, and the Ottawa Senators will do battle against John Carlson, Evgeny Kuznetsov, and the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena in an Eastern Conference showdown. The opening face-off takes place at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, January 7, and it is being televised live on NBC Sports Washington.
Ottawa Senators vs. Washington Capitals Odds
The Capitals (-350) are being picked as the big favorites over the Senators (+275) and oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at 7 goals (-130 over, +110 under).
Netting moneyline bettors 8.8 units, Washington is 29-14 straight up (SU) overall in the 2019-20 season. That winning percentage, the NHL’s best so far in the early season, is an improvement compared to how the team performed during the 2018-19 season (48-34). Among the team’s 43 games this season, 28 have gone over the total, while 15 have gone under and none have pushed. This season, the team is 12-8 SU at home.
The Capitals have converted on 21.8 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated fourth overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 83.3 percent of all penalties.
Averaging 26.3 saves per game with a .902 save percentage, Braden Holtby (18-12-4) has been the top goalkeeper for the Caps this year. If the Caps, however, choose to rest him, the team may turn to Ilya Samsonov (11-4-4 record, .918 save percentage, 2.33 goals against average).
On the visiting bench, Ottawa is 16-26 straight up (SU) and has lost 5.0 units for bettors taking the moneyline thus far. A total of 24 of its contests have gone over the total, while 18 have gone under the total and none have pushed. The Senators are 5-17 SU as an away team this season.
The Senators have converted on just 11.5 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that places them in the bottom- overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 15th overall and it’s successfully killed off 81.1 percent of all penalties.
Anders Nilsson (28.5 saves per game) has been the primary option in the net for Ottawa. Nilsson owns a 9-11-2 record, while registering a .908 save percentage and 3.18 goals against average this year.
Ottawa Senators at Washington Capitals Betting Predictions
NHL Prediction: SU Winner – Capitals, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- The Capitals (3-2 in shootouts) has more shootout experience coming into this one. The Senators fell short in both of its shootouts this year.
- For both of these clubs, the total has gone over in four of their past five outings.
- Five of Ottawa’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 1-4 in those games.
- This game features two of the tougher teams in the league. Ottawa skaters have accounted for the third-most hits in the league (27.7 per game) and the Capitals have registered the seventh-most (24.0).
