Florida Panthers vs. Ottawa Senators Prediction, NHL Odds
The Panthers are coming off a 4-3 victory in Montreal on Thursday, and have now earned at least a point in nine of 10 road contests. The Senators return home after closing out a three-game road trip with Thursday’s 5-2 win in Winnipeg, but have tallied just three win in their past 12 home outings.
The Panthers have commanded 92% of the betting action, and look to Saturday’s clash as -252 road favourites. The Senators lag as +209 underdogs while the total has held steady at 6.5.
Panthers vs. Senators NHL Betting Odds
Saturday night’s matchup at Canadian Tire Centre marks the third of four regular season meetings between these Atlantic Division rivals. The two teams split a pair of games in Florida earlier this season, capped by the Panthers’ 3-0 victory on March 3. Overall, the Panthers have earned the win in six of eight head-to-head clashes, and have also picked up two points in four of five visits to Ottawa. Florida has effectively shut down the Senators offence of late, limiting Ottawa to three or fewer goals in eight of their past 10 matchups. The glaring exception to that trend was the Senators’ 8-2 win over a Panthers lineup depleted by COVID-19 back in December.
The Panthers have been far from depleted during their current surge, averaging four goals per game during an impressive 8-1-1 run. Currently the highest scoring team in the NHL, Florida has seen the OVER regularly pay out in totals betting, going 28-23-2 on the season. However, with the team allowing just 2.20 goals per game over their past 10 outings, the OVER is just 5-4-1 over their past 10, and 2-3-0 on their current road trip. The Senators rediscovered their offensive touch in Thursday’s win in Winnipeg after scoring one or fewer goals in three of their previous four. However, this club has work to do to shore up a porous defence on home ice, where they have fallen to defeat by multi-goal margins in three of their past four.
Florida Panthers
Claude Giroux wasted no time making his mark in his Panthers debut in Montreal on Thursday night. Giroux tallied an assist on Florida’s first goal of the night, and set up Sam Reinhart’s game winner. That offensive outburst was welcome considering Giroux’s recent struggle to get on the scoresheet. The 34-year-old tallied just three goals and three points in 15 contests prior to be acquired from Philadelphia at the trade deadline.
Ottawa Senators
Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stutzle rebounded from their recent slumber in Thursday’s win in Winnipeg. Tkachuk scored a pair of goals to end a six-game scoring drought, while Stutzle set up a pair of third period goals that put the game out of reach. However, goals remain scarce for Stutzle, who has potted just two markers in his past 14 outings. The talented young German has also scored just once in his past six home dates after find in the back of the net in four straight home dates.
FLA
OTT