New York Rangers vs. Ottawa Senators: NHL Odds, Prediction
The struggling Ottawa Senators return from a long and largely unsuccessful road trip on Wednesday night to begin a three-game homestand against the New York Rangers.
Rangers vs. Senators Betting Analysis
This is the of three meetings, with New York returning to Ottawa on Feb. 17. On Nov. 19, the Senators were +130 underdogs when they visited Madison Square Garden and lost 3-0. Henrik Lundqvist was the game’s No. 1 star with 20 saves. Kevin Hayes, Michael Grabner and Mika Zibanejad scored, and Mats Zuccarello had two assists for the Rangers in their first game against Ottawa since last year’s playoffs. Craig Anderson had 24 saves in what was Ottawa’s first regulation road loss of the season.
The last time the Rangers visited the Canadian Tire Centre was May 6 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Ottawa won 5-4 in overtime on Kyle Turris’ goal at 6:28 to give his team a 3-2 series lead. Derick Brassard tied the score with 1:26 left in the third period for Ottawa, which was down 2-0 early in the first period. It looked as if the Rangers’ Grabner won the game a little under five minutes into OT but his redirected goal was disallowed because it came on a high-stick. The Senators would then of course take Game 6, 4-2 back in New York, to advance to the East finals against Pittsburgh.
The Rangers visited Ottawa once in the 2016-17 regular season and lost 3-1 on the final weekend. That gave the Senators second place in the Atlantic and home-ice advantage in the first round against Boston. The home team has won eight of the past nine regular-season meetings in the series.
New York Rangers
The Blueshirts (16-11-3) were 1-5-2 at one point and Coach Alain Vigneault’s job was in jeopardy, but New York has played much better since then. It looks to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time since mid-November, though, following a 2-1 home shootout defeat to Dallas on Monday.
The Rangers were fortunate just to get to overtime considering they were outshot 45-25. Backup goalie Ondrej Pavelec was the game’s No. 1 star despite taking the loss. Rick Nash had the lone Rangers goal, his eighth of the season, to tie it 1-1 at 16:19 of the third. It ended a 10-game goalless drought for Nash.
New York’s leading scorer is winger Mats Zuccarello with 24 points (7G, 17A). It should be Lundqvist back in net Wednesday. He’s 14-7-2 with a 2.69 GAA and .916 save percentage.
Ottawa Senators
Ottawa (9-13-7) concluded a seven-game trip with one victory following a 3-2 loss at a bad Buffalo team on Tuesday night. The Sens allowed all three goals in the second period. Cody Ceci made it 3-1 at 6:43 of the third with his third goal of the year, and Brassard (seventh) scored at 19:08 to end a 20-game goalless drought, but Ottawa couldn’t beat former Senator Robin Lehner again.
Mike Condon got the start for Ottawa and had 22 saves. It should be Anderson back in there Wednesday. He comes off allowing five goals on 50 shots in a loss to the Sharks on Saturday. Anderson has lost his last six decisions and is 7-10-3 with a 3.11 goals-against-average and a .895 save percentage.
