Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Ottawa Senators Prediction, NHL Odds
Losers in six straight, the Senators entered the weekend with nine players sidelined by the illness caused by the novel coronavirus. The Penguins have also been hard hit by COVID-19, which has sidelined several players over the past two weeks, including team captain Sidney Crosby, whose status for Saturday’s contest at Canadian Tire Centre remains uncertain.
Ottawa’s woes have steered sports bettors towards the Penguins, who have attracted 79% of bets and are set to hit the ice as -155 road favourites. Ottawa lags as a +131 underdog, while the total is pegged at 5.5, with an overwhelming 90% of wagers being laid on the OVER.
Penguins vs. Senators NHL Betting Odds
Saturday night’s contest marks the first meeting between these two clubs since March 2020. The Penguins have dominated during a three-game head-to-head win streak, outscoring Ottawa by a wide 17-8 overall margin, with each of those three victories coming on home ice.
However, it is the Senators who hold the upper hand on home ice, winning two straight, and three of their past four. Indeed, the Ottawa defence has consistently contained the high-powered Pittsburgh attack in recent home dates, limiting the Penguins to fewer than two goals per game on average over their past eight visits. That is reflected in recent results in totals betting, with the UNDER going 5-2-1 during that stretch.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Hobbled first by early-season injuries, and now by a COVID-19 outbreak, the Penguins have endured a tough start to the new season. The Penguins are coming off a morale-boosting 3-2 shootout win over the Florida Panthers, and have now seen each of their past four contests settled in overtime or by shootout. However, they have yet to string together consecutive wins while compiling a middling 5-3-4 record that has left them stalled in seventh place in the Metropolitan Division standings.
Among the players sidelined by injury prior to the recent COVID-19 outbreak are Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang. Malkin remains on the shelf with a knee injury. And while Crosby has rebounded from a wrist injury, he has not seen action since making a scoreless season debut back on October 30.
Ottawa Senators
Unlike the Penguins, who have seen their COVID-19 outbreak unfold in slow motion, the Senators have been hit hard and suddenly by the bug. As many as nine players, as well as associate coach Jack Capuano, could be unavailable to the club for Saturday’s matchup.
Further complicating matters is the loss of talented defenceman Erik Brannstrom, who is reportedly out indefinitely with a broken hand. That leaves the Sens with a massive mountain to climb as they search for just their second win in 11 games, and first home victory since the first week of the campaign. Ottawa has struggled at both ends of the ice during their current six-game slide, allowing 25 total goals during that stretch while potting one or fewer markers on three occasions.
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