New Jersey Devils vs. Ottawa Senators Prediction, NHL Odds
Two Eastern Conference cellar dwellers are set to go head-to-head Monday night as the Ottawa Senators prepare to host the New Jersey Devils. Ottawa has lost three of their last four games, including a 4-1 decision against the Islanders just before the all-star break. New Jersey is on a six-game slide that includes a home-and-home series pounding from Toronto leading into the break.
The Senators are -138 favourites to win on the NHL odds, with a total of 6.0.
Devils vs. Senators NHL Betting Odds
The last three games between these teams have needed extra time to solve. The only meeting this year ended in a 3-2 shootout win for Ottawa on Dec. 6 in New Jersey. Sports Interaction bettors are backing the Sens for this one at about a 68 per cent rate, while a little more than 60 per cent of action is taking the Under.
New Jersey has been brutal on the road this season. The Devils are 5-14-2 away from the Prudential Center, including six straight losses. They’re 21-24 against the spread overall and 10-11 ATS on the road. The total has gone Over in the Devils’ last five trips to Ottawa.
The Senators have struggled this year and come into this contest with eight losses in their last 10 games against Eastern Conference teams. They’re 22-18 ATS overall, including 10-9 ATS at home. The total has gone Under in Ottawa’s last seven games overall and their last five at home.
New Jersey Devils
After blowing a 3-0 lead and losing in Toronto on Monday, New Jersey responded with a 7-1 blowout loss against the Leafs at home the next night. The Devils were outscored 13-5 through the two games and looked completely overmatched. The team has now dropped nine of their last 10 games overall as they sit dead last in the Metropolitan Division standings. Already down by six in the third period on Tuesday, Jack Hughes scored New Jersey’s only goal of the game. Hughes is second on the team with 27 points (12G, 15A) in 28 games. Jesper Bratt leads the team with 41 points (14G, 27A) in 42 games.
With No. 1 goalie Mackenzie Blackwood still out of the lineup due to a heel injury and backup Jonathan Bernier done for the season following hip surgery, Jon Gillies will get the start against Ottawa. Gillies was pulled before the start of the third period against Toronto after allowing six goals on 28 shots. For the season, he’s posted a 1-6-1 record with a 3.51 goals-against average and .889 save percentage.
Ottawa Senators
Things haven’t been much better in Ottawa this year as the only team they’re ahead of in the Atlantic Division is the league-worst Montreal Canadiens, who are on pace for a historically bad losing season. Nick Holden scored the lone Senators goal on Tuesday, while Anton Forsberg stopped 26 of 30 shots in net. Brady Tkachuk picked up an assist in the game and sits second on the team with 30 points (12G, 18A). Drake Batherson, who leads the team with 34 points (13G, 21A), was held off the scoresheet. Josh Norris has a team-high 18 goals and was also held off the scoresheet on Tuesday. Ottawa has now dropped two of their last three games and three of their last five.
Over the last few weeks, Ottawa has been rotating game-by-game between Forsberg and Matt Murray, so if they stick with that schedule, Murray is in line for the start on Monday. Murray has seen a big turnaround in his game over the last month. After starting the season 0-5-0 with a 3.26 GAA and .890 SV, Murray was sent to the minors. Murray returned to the NHL with a 4-1-2 record in the month of January, posting a 2.51 GAA and .924 SV in those seven games.
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