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Andrew Rogers
New York Islanders vs. Ottawa Senators: NHL Odds, Prediction
The only good thing about the Ottawa Senators’ season at this point is that it’s almost over – and yet, the Senators find themselves as a favourite heading into this NHL matchup with the visiting New York Islanders. Neither team will be playing in the postseason – and it has shown in their recent play, with the Senators looking to end a five-game losing streak against an Islanders team that has won just two of its previous 16 games.
Islanders vs. Senators Betting Analysis
The Senators enter as the betting-line favourite for just the second time in their previous 19 games – and the lone instance during that stretch didn’t go so well, as Ottawa dropped a 4-3 decision to the Buffalo Sabres despite coming in at -178. The Senators are coming off a listless effort in a 4-1 setback to the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday night, and are just 1-6 SU in their previous seven games when playing the back end of a back-to-back.
Given how badly these teams defend the net, it’s no surprise that the total for this one is among the highest of the year – and bettors still might want to consider the over. The Islanders, who fell 3-0 to Florida on Monday, are 12-3-1 O/U in their last 16 following a loss of three or more goals, and have gone over in five of their last seven vs. the Atlantic Division. Ottawa, meanwhile, has gone above the number in seven of its previous nine games at Canadian Tire Centre.
New York Islanders
Goaltending has been the Islanders’ weak spot all season – and when New York needed solid netminding the most, its goalie tandem of Jaroslav Halak and Christopher Gibson let the team down spectacularly. The Islanders come into Tuesday’s encounter with the Senators having allowed a whopping 3.92 goals per game in March – third-most in the NHL over that span – and have seen their season total rise to 3.59, the worst in the league.
Ottawa Senators
The Senators would love to reverse a trend that has seen them drop five of their last seven home games to the Islanders – but to do that, they’ll need to address their own goaltending woes. Ottawa has given up a stunning 24 goals over the length of its losing skid, with 22 of those coming over the past four games. Ottawa has allowed 3.45 goals per game so far this season – the second-most in the league, behind only the Islanders.
