In their last head-to-head matchup of the regular season, the Ottawa Senators and the Minnesota Wild take the ice at the Xcel Energy Center for an East-West tilt. Fox Sports North will showcase the matchup, and the action gets going at 8 p.m. ET on Monday, January 22.
Ottawa Senators at Minnesota Wild Odds
Ottawa (+170) is entering this one as the underdog to Minnesota (-200), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-105 for the over, -115 for the under).
Producing 1.1 units for moneyline bettors, Minnesota is 25-22 straight up (SU) overall thus far. That early-season winning percentage is a slide from what the team recorded during last years regular season (49-33). Through 47 regular season matches, 24 of its games have gone over the total, while 21 have gone under and just two have pushed. This year, the team is 16-8 SU at home.
The Wild have converted on 19.4 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 11th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 83.0 percent of all penalties.
The Wild, as a collective unit, have been whistled for penalties 4.2 times per game overall this season, and 3.2 per game over their last five match ups. The teams had to stave off opposition power plays for just 6.8 minutes per game over their last five outings, in total.
Averaging 28.1 saves per game with a .919 save percentage, Devan Dubnyk (19-12-3) has been the primary option in goal for Minnesota this season. If Minnesota chooses to give him a rest, however, the team could turn to Alex Stalock (7-12-12 record, .914 save percentage, 2.71 goals against average).
The Wild will continue to look for leadership out of Eric Staal and Mikael Granlund. Staal (40 points) has tallied 19 goals and 21 assists and has recorded two or more points on 10 different occasions this year. Granlund has 13 goals and 23 assists to his credit and has notched at least one point in 23 contests.
Ottawa is 15-29 straight up (SU) and has lost 15.9 units for moneyline bettors thus far. A total of 24 of its outings have gone over the total, while 20 have gone under and none have pushed. The Senators are 6-14 SU as an away team this season.
The Senators have converted on just 15.5 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s ranked 27th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 30th overall and it’s successfully killed off 75.0 percent of all penalties.
Ottawa’s players have been penalized 3.8 times per game this season, and 5.0 per game over their past five outings. The teams had to stave off opponent power plays 12.0 minutes per game over their last five road outings.
Craig Anderson (27.0 saves per game) has been the primary option in the net for Ottawa. Anderson owns a 13-21-5 record, while registering a .899 save percentage and 3.24 goals against average this year.
Leading the offensive attack for the visiting Senators will be Mark Stone, who has 18 goals and 26 assists on the year.
Ottawa Senators vs. Minnesota Wild Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Wild, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- 64.0 percent of Minnesota’s wins have come by two or more goals (the team is 16-13 overall in such games) while 40.0 percent of Ottawa’s wins have come by two goals or more (6-14 overall in games decided by at least two goals).
- The Senators are 6-14 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 10-16 when they’re in the box for fewer than 10 penalty minutes, total.
- Ottawa is 1-5 in games decided by a shootout this season while Minnesota is 2-1 in shootouts.
- The total has gone under in four of Minnesota’s last five outings.
- Minnesota has averaged 5.2 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 6.0 giveaways per game (the 2nd-fewest in the NHL).
- Ottawa is ranked 23rd this season with 10.4 giveaways per game. That figures trended higher, as it’s averaged 11.6 giveaways over its last 10 games and 12.2 giveaways over its last five.
- Ottawa skaters have dished out the leagues seventh-most hits per game (23.6), but the teams recorded just 18.2 hits over their last five away games.
