A game that features two teams that’ve positioned themselves firmly in playoff contention, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Ottawa Senators take the ice at Canadian Tire Centre for an Eastern Conference showdown. AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh will broadcast the game, and the action gets underway at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 16.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Ottawa Senators Odds
Pittsburgh (-115) is currently the favorite over Ottawa (-105), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The odds for betting that total stand at -125 for the over and +105 for the under.
Pittsburgh is 10-10 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.4 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 20 regular season matches, 11 of its games have gone over the total, while nine have gone under and none have pushed. This 2017-18 Penguins team is 4-9 SU on the road.
Pittsburgh has converted on 24.4 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s good enough for sixth-best in the league. Its penalty kill is ranked 26th overall, and it has successfully killed off only 77.5 percent of its penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Pens have been penalized 5.0 times per game overall this season, 4.4 per game over its past five contests total, and 5.0 per game over its last five road outings. The team’s had to defend opponent power plays 10.6 minutes per game over their last five road outings.
Averaging 26.3 saves per game with a .903 save percentage, Matt Murray (10-6-1) has been the best option in goal for Pittsburgh this year. If head coach Mike Sullivan chooses to rest him, however, the team may turn to Antti Niemi (0-3), who has a .797 save percentage and 7.49 goals against average this year.
Phil Kessel and Evgeni Malkin will both lead the offensive attack for the visiting Penguins. Kessel has 24 points on eight goals and 16 assists, and has recorded multiple points five times. Malkin has seven goals and 14 assists to his credit (and has notched at least one point in 13 games).
On the other side of the rink, Ottawa is 8-8 straight up (SU) and has lost 2.4 units for moneyline bettors this year. 11 of its contests have gone over the total, while five have gone under and none have pushed. It’s 4-7 SU at home so far this year.
The Senators have converted on 20.6 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that places it in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 22nd overall, and it’s successfully killed off 78.7 percent of all opponent power plays.
Ottawa players have been sent to the penalty box only 3.9 times per game in total this season, and 5.2 per game over their last five at home. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays 13.0 minutes per game over their last five home outings.
Craig Anderson has denied 24.3 shots per game as the top choice in goal for the Senators. Anderson has seven wins, six losses, and three overtime losses to his credit and has registered a poor .895 save percentage and 2.99 goals against average this year.
The home team will be led on offense by Mark Stone (12 goals, seven assists).
Pittsburgh Penguins at Ottawa Senators Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Over
Betting Notes:
- Four of Pittsburgh’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 1-3 in those games.
- The Senators are 0-4 SU when they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Penguins are 3-6 SU in games where they serve more minutes than their opponent.
- Two of Ottawa’s last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 0-2 in those games and 1-4 overall in shootouts this year.
- Pittsburgh could have an advantage if this one comes down to the wire. The team’s 8-5 in one-goal games, while Ottawa is 4-6 in such games.
- The over has hit in four of Ottawa’s last five games.
- Ottawa skaters have averaged 10.6 giveaways over its last five home games, its season average of 10.1 giveaways per game (ranked 19th in the NHL).
- Pittsburgh has averaged 7.8 giveaways over its last five home games, its season average of 7.5 giveaways per game (ranked sixth).
- Pittsburgh skaters have accounted for the 11th-most hits in the league (22.3 per game).
