Ottawa Senators vs. Carolina Hurricanes Prediction, NHL Odds
The Senators opened their current three-game road trip with Sunday’s 4-3 overtime loss in Columbus, and now sit six points back of Pittsburgh in the race for the Eastern Conference’s second wild card with just five games remaining on their regular season schedule. The Hurricanes wrap up a two-game home stand after escaping with a 2-1 win over the New York Islanders on Sunday. They maintain a narrow three-point lead over second-place New Jersey in the Metropolitan Division standings.
The Senators have made major gains since opening as +242 underdogs, shortening to a +224 bet on the NHL odds. The Hurricanes remain perched as strong -270 favourites while the total is pegged at 6.0, with -120 odds favouring the OVER.
Senators vs. Hurricanes NHL Betting Odds
Tuesday night’s matchup at PNC Arena marks the second of three scheduled meetings this season between these Eastern Conference rivals. The Hurricanes skated to a decisive 4-0 win when they hosted Ottawa back on February 24, extending a run that has seen each team win four of their past eight clashes together. Three of the past four dates involving them have been settled by a single goal, and with the total reaching 7.0 just twice over their past eight clashes, the UNDER has gone 6-2 over that stretch.
Ottawa Senators
The Senators have seen their hopes of returning to the NHL postseason slip away while losing 10 of their past 15 contests. The club has particularly struggled on the road over that stretch, losing seven of nine away contests while averaging just 2.22 goals per game over that stretch. The Sens’ attack sputtered once again on Sunday in Columbus, with Ottawa shooters falling silent after establishing an early 3-2 lead, on their way to a 4-3 OT loss.
That marked the third time in as many road dates that Ottawa has squandered an early lead, and the second time in three away contests that they have failed to score after the first period. Tim Stutzle’s recent scoring woes continued Sunday. The Senators’ leading scorer was held off the scoresheet for a second straight game, and has tallied just two total points over his past four away appearances. Mark Kastelic has been making the most of his fourth-line minutes, scoring in each of his past two road appearances after failing to bulge the twine in his previous 17 overall outings.
Carolina Hurricanes
The Hurricanes have boosted their chances of winning the Metro with two straight wins. However, it is the club’s defence that deserves praise for their recent surge. Carolina has allowed just one total goal over their two recent wins while limiting opponents to 36 total shots in those contests.
However, this club has remain snake bitten on offense, scoring seven total goals over their past four games. Indeed, goals have come at a premium despite impressive offensive performances with Canes shooters averaging over 39 shots on goal over their past three contests. Martin Necas has particularly struggled. Carolina’s top point-getter has failed to crack the scoresheet in four straight games, and has scored just twice over his past 16 games. Conversely, Sebastian Aho has snapped out of the scoring funk that plagued him through the first half of March, tallying nine points over his past nine contests, and contributed two assists in the Hurricanes’ 4-0 win over Ottawa earlier this season.
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