Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Ottawa Senators Prediction, NHL Odds
Ottawa lost in their most recent outing and was eliminated from playoff contention again, for the sixth consecutive season. While Tampa Bay has solidified third place in their division and will battling as the road team to open the playoffs.
The Lightning are listed as the -254 favourite to win on the NHL odds with the total sitting at 7.
Lightning vs. Senators NHL Betting Odds
Saturday night’s tilt will be the third and final meeting of the season between the Atlantic Division foe. Ottawa whipped Tampa Bay 7-2 on home ice in their most recent meeting to even the season series at one game a piece. Home ice advantage has been prominent in these matchups lately, with the home team winning each of the past five meetings. Each of their past three head-to-heads has played the Over, as well as six of their past eight.
The Lightning have hit the over in their past two games, due to poor defensive efforts, giving up six goals in both outings. They have played to a 38-32-9 record on the Over/Under so far this season helped by an offence that has been scoring 3.4 goals per game (seventh highest rate in NHL). The Bolts have not been quite as dangerous as in years past, looking at their disappointing 36-43 record against the spread should convince you of it.
Ottawa is riding a four-game losing streak, where their offence has been dragging its feet, scoring two or less in three of those matchups. They have traded results on the Over/Under in each of the past seven games and now sit 38-40-1 on the total this season. They did not cover the spread on Thursday and have now failed to do so in four of their past five, moving their record to 44-35 ATS on the year.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay will be looking to wrap up a three-game road trip by picking up at least one win, after back-to-back losses in the state of New York. Most recently, the Bolts got smoked 6-1 by the New York Islanders, Nikita Kucherov’s 30th of the season was the lone marker for the Lightning.
Kucherov has a point in each of the last three games, increasing his season total to 108 (30G, 78A) in 79 games. A big key to the Russian’s success this season has been staying healthy as he is set to play the full 82-game schedule for the first time since the 2018-19 season.
The rest of the Lightning team has not been as lucky with injuries as the list of players out with injuries continues to grow. Anthony Cirelli, Brandon Hagel and Erik Cernak all did not dress versus the Islanders, listed as day-to-day, Tanner Jeannot and Patrick Maroon left the game with what looked like more worrisome injuries.
Ottawa Senators
The Sens could not hold off the Panthers’ attack on Thursday night getting pounded 7-2 in Florida. Despite throwing 58 shots at the Panthers’ net, it was only Claude Giroux (31) and Ridly Greig (2) that could get one past the opposing goalie.
Leevi Marilainen started the game in the net but the 20-year-old was pulled just 1:26 into the second period after giving up three goals on 12 shots in just his second NHL appearance. Maads Sogaard came in as relief and made just 14 saves of his own, but was credited with the loss.
With the loss, Ottawa was eliminated from the playoffs for the sixth season in a row. The team showed their displeasure on the ice, getting in multiple scraps, resulting in the ejection of head coach DJ Smith.
The Senators will play their final two home games before hitting the road for their season finale in Buffalo on Thursday. They will be looking to go out on a high note as there could be some major changes looming this off-season.
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