Evgeni Malkin, Phil Kessel, and the Pittsburgh Penguins will do battle against Matt Duchene, Mark Stone, and the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre in an Eastern Conference showdown. This one will get underway at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 8 and it can be watched live on AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Ottawa Senators Odds
Ottawa (+160) is playing the role of underdog to Pittsburgh (-180), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 7 goals (-120 under, +100 over).
Ottawa is 12-17 straight-up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 0.8 units this season. That early-season winning percentage is a welcome improvement over the 28-54 record from last year’s regular season campaign. Through 29 regular season outings, 21 of the team’s games have gone over the total, while six have gone under and just two have pushed. The team is 9-7 SU at home this year.
The Senators have connected on 23.3 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated 31st overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 71.8 percent of all penalties.
With a .904 save percentage and 32.5 saves per game, Craig Anderson (11-15-3) has been the best option in goal for Ottawa this year. If Ottawa chooses to give him the night off, however, head coach Guy Boucher could turn to Mike McKenna (2-3-3 record, .879 save percentage, 4.66 goals against average).
Pittsburgh has lost 12.1 units for moneyline bettors thus far and is currently 12-15 straight up (SU). Through 27 regular season contests, 12 of its games have gone over the total, while 11 have gone under the total and just four have pushed. The Penguins are 5-7 SU as a road team this season.
The Penguins have converted on 25.0 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that places it in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked sixth overall and it’s successfully defended 83.1 percent of all penalties.
Casey DeSmith (.923 save percentage and 2.46 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for Pittsburgh. DeSmith is averaging 25.2 saves per game and owns an 8-10-3 record.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Ottawa Senators Betting Predictions
NHL Prediction: SU Winner \u2013 Penguins, O/U \u2013 Over
Betting Notes
- For both of these clubs, the over has hit in four of their past five matchups.
- Over Ottawa’s last ten outings, nine of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 3-6 in those games).
- Pittsburgh skaters have accounted for the league’s most hits per game (30.4), but the team’s averaged just 23.2 hits over their last five away games.
