NHL Give and Go: Lightning Could Learn From Senators

NHL Saturday night betting odds and preview

When the reigning Norris Trophy winner, Erik Karlsson went down with a gruesome Achilles’ tendon injury, the Ottawa Senators’ future looked bleak. Then Jason Spezza hit the shelf with a back injury before the floodgates really opened. From there, Craig Anderson, Marc Methot, Milan Michalek also suffered serious injuries – and that’s not even counting the usual bumps and bruises that cause every team man games during the season.

Still, the Senators remain in the thick of the playoff race heading into Saturday’s big home date with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Speaking of Lightning, they could learn a thing or two from the Sens. Tampa Bay has also had big injury problems with Ryan Malone, Benoit Pouliot, Victor Hedman, captain Vincent Lecavalier and most recently, goaltender Anders Lindback hitting the shelf.

You don’t have to be an NHL analyst to spot the differences between the two teams. Ottawa competes every shift and takes care of its own end first. Tampa Bay gives up far too many scoring opportunities at the best of times and when its top line isn’t bringing home the bacon, there isn’t much left in the cupboard.

Two stats jump out when you start digging into these teams. Ottawa leads the league in goals-against average, allowing just two per game, and is also tops in the NHL averaging 32.8 shots on goal per game even though Karlsson still ranks third on the team with 63 shots in just 14 games played. Kyle Turris leads the team in goals and he’s only hit the back of the net eight times. That’s the sign of a team that’s working hard and banding together under the careful watch of Paul MacLean.

Everybody has been waiting for the Sens to fall off the wagon all year – yours truly included. But looking ahead, they certainly have a good shot. The major test remaining is a seven-game road swing at the beginning of next month. If Ottawa can pick up three or four wins during that stretch, that should be good enough to get in. As for Saturday, this Lightning team is ripe for the picking. Book the Senators to skate away with a 4-2 win.

St. Louis Blues at Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers have been better lately, picking up at least a point in five straight games against some of the best teams the West has to offer. But you could say the same thing about the Blues, too. They have won five of seven and are finally getting healthy again. Andy McDonald is back in the lineup and T.J. Oshie is expected to return Saturday or Sunday. Rookie goalie Jake Allen has grabbed the starting job and is running with it, too. St. Louis gets by the Oilers in a good one. Final score: St. Louis 3, Edmonton 2. 

Columbus Blue Jackets at Nashville Predators

All of  a sudden, the Blue Jackets are at .500 and the Predators can’t keep the puck out of their own net. Welcome to the wild, wild, West. After losing four straight, the Preds did snap the skid with a home win over Calgary, but that was hardly a work of art. Columbus is a live dog here.  Final score: Columbus 3, Nashville 1.

Last week’s record: 2-1.

Season record to date: 7-2.