Two teams matching up for the second time this season, the Ottawa Senators and the Florida Panthers take the ice at the BB&T Center for a divisional showdown. This one gets going at 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday, March 12 and it can be watched live on Fox SportsNet Florida.
Ottawa Senators vs. Florida Panthers Odds
Ottawa (+190) is playing the role of underdog to Florida (-230) and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals (-115 for the over, -105 for the under).
Earning 2.5 units for moneyline bettors, Florida is 34-32 straight up (SU) overall thus far. That early-season winning percentage is a welcome improvement compared to what the team managed during last year’s regular season (35-47). Of the team’s 66 games this season, 34 have gone over the total, while 32 have gone under and none have pushed. The team is 21-12 SU at home this year.
The Panthers have converted on 20.0 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 18th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 79.9 percent of all penalties.
As a team, the Panthers have been penalized 4.3 times per game overall this season, and 3.3 per game over their last ten games. The team has been forced to kill penalties for a whopping 14.2 minutes per game over their last five matchups, overall.
Averaging 27.8 saves per game with a .907 save percentage, James Reimer (16-20-5) has been the top option in goal for the Panthers this year. If head coach Bob Boughner decides to rest him, however, Florida might roll with Roberto Luongo (14-11-11 record, .930 save percentage, 2.51 goals against average).
Aleksander Barkov and Vincent Trocheck will each lead the offensive attack for the Panthers. Barkov (68 points) is up to 25 goals and 43 assists and has recorded two or more points 20 times this year. Trocheck has 26 goals and 36 assists to his name and has notched a point in 43 games.
Ottawa is 23-44 straight up (SU) and has lost 20.0 units for bettors taking the moneyline thus far. A total of 35 of its contests have gone over the total, while 32 have gone under and none have pushed. As the visiting team, the Senators are 9-24 SU.
The Senators have converted on just 16.3 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s ranked 27th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 28th overall and it’s successfully killed off 76.2 percent of all penalties.
Ottawa’s skaters have been penalized 3.5 times per game this season, and 2.8 per game over their last five on the road. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 6.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Craig Anderson (27.6 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for Ottawa. Anderson has 20 wins, 29 losses, and six OT losses to his credit, while registering a .901 save percentage and 3.24 goals against average this year.For the visiting Senators, the offense will be coordinated by Mark Stone, who has 42 assists and 20 goals on the year.
Ottawa Senators at Florida Panthers Free Picks
NHL Prediction: SU Winner – Panthers, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- Power plays and penalty kills may prove to be extremely important in the outcome of this matchup. The Senators are 9-21 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 16-29 when they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Panthers are 13-16 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 16-19 when they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
- Two of Ottawa’s last ten games have ended in a shootout. The team is 0-2 in those games and 2-7 overall in shootouts this season.
- Florida could hold the upper hand if it’s a close one late. The team’s 17-15 in games decided by one goal, while Ottawa is 15-23 in such games.
- The under has hit in three of Florida’s last five games.
- Florida is ranked 29th this season with 12.2 giveaways per game. That figure has regressed recently, as it’s averaged 16.1 giveaways over its last 10 games and 14.4 giveaways over its last five.
- Ottawa skaters have averaged 5.2 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 9.9 giveaways per game (ranked 20th).
- Ottawa skaters have accounted for the ninth-most hits in the league (23.9 per game).
