Canadian Tire Centre plays host to an Atlantic Division showdown as the Ottawa Senators welcome the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning. The opening face-off is at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 6, and you are able to witness the game live on Sportsnet.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Ottawa Senators Odds
Tampa Bay (+170) is entering this one as the underdog to Tampa Bay (-200), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total sit at -110 for the over and -110 on the under.
Tampa Bay is 29-11 straight up (SU) and has netted 12.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 40 regular season matches, 22 of its games have gone over the total, while 18 have gone under and none have pushed. As an away team in 2017-18, the Bolts are 13-7 SU.
Tampa Bay currently has the third-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s found the net on 25.0 percent of its extra-man opportunities this year. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 23rd out of 31 teams, and it’s successfully killed off 79.7 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Bolts have been called for penalties 4.1 times per game this season, and 5.0 per game over its past ten games. The teams had to stave off opponent power plays just 7.6 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Averaging 28.8 saves per game with a .939 save percentage, Andrei Vasilevskiy (26-8-2) has been the best option in goal for Tampa Bay this year. If it decides to give him a rest, however, the team could turn to Peter Budaj (3-4-1), who has a .878 save percentage and 3.80 goals against average this year.
Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos will both lead the way for the visiting Lightning. Kucherov has 57 points on 26 goals and 31 assists, and has recorded two or more points in 20 different games. Stamkos has 17 goals and 33 assists to his credit, and has logged at least one point in 27 games.
On the other bench, Ottawa is 13-26 straight up (SU) and has lost 17.6 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 39 regular season outings, 19 of its games have gone over the total, while another 19 have gone under and none have pushed. The teams 8-12 SU at home this season.
The Senators have converted on just 16.2 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that places them in the bottom 10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 29th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 75.9 percent of all penalties.
Senators players have been penalized only 3.6 times per game in total this season, 3.8 per game over their last five outings total, and 3.6 per game over their last five at home. The team has had to kill penalties just 7.2 minutes per contest over their last five home games.
Craig Anderson (25.7 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for the Senators. Anderson has 11 wins, 18 losses, and five OT losses to his name and has maintained a mediocre 3.15 goals against average and a subpar .896 save percentage this season.
The Sens offense will be led by Mark Stone (16 goals, 21 assists).
Tampa Bay Lightning at Ottawa Senators Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Senators, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Two of Tampa Bay’s last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 2-2 overall in shootouts this season.
- The under has hit in three of Ottawa’s last five outings.
- Six of Tampa Bay’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 5-1 in those games.
- The Senators this season have tallied the eighth-most hits per game (23.3), but the teams averaged 31.2 over their last five home games.
