Ottawa Senators vs. Detroit Red Wings: NHL Odds, Prediction
Third of four meetings between these teams this season, with Ottawa returning to Motown on March 31. Both could be long eliminated from playoff contention by then the way things are going. This will be the Senators’ first-ever visit to the Wings’ new Little Caesars Arena.
Senators vs Red Wings Betting Analysis
Ottawa was 8-10-2 all-time at the old Joe Louis Arena. That includes 0-2 last year, losing 5-1 early and 5-4 in a shootout near the end of the season.
Detroit is done visiting the Canadian Tire Centre for 2017-18. The Wings won there 2-1 in a shootout on Oct. 7. Frans Nielsen scored the lone shootout goal and Jimmy Howard had 37 saves. Dion Phaneuf scored for Ottawa and Craig Anderson made 29 saves, but his team was 0-for-7 on the power play. Erik Karlsson was out injured.
On Nov. 2, the Senators beat Detroit 3-1. Mark Stone was the game’s No. 1 star with goal and an assist, Anderson was No. 2 with 24 saves and Karlsson No. 3 with two assists. Ottawa had one goal in each period (empty-netter in third), while Detroit avoided a shutout at 16:37 of the third on an Anthony Mantha power-play goal. The home team has won six of the past eight meetings between these two.
Ottawa Senators
Ottawa (12-17-8) probably was glad to say goodbye to 2017 as the Senators have just four victories since mid-November. They were routed 5-0 at home by Boston on Saturday. It was the fifth time in December the Senators were blanked and 11th time in 14 games in the month they allowed three or more goals. They were outshot 34-25 by Boston and surrendered three power-play goals. Ottawa ranks 29th on the penalty kill at 76.9 per cent. Mike Condon stopped 29 shots. The only teams with fewer points in the NHL are Buffalo and Arizona. The Sens will welcome back defenceman Fredrik Claesson here. He was suspended the past two games for a hit to the head of Boston’s Noel Acciari during last Wednesday’s game. Claesson has just two points and is minus-5.
Detroit Red Wings
The Red Wings (15-16-7) enter on a two-game winning streak – they have won back-to-back games a handful of times this season but not yet three in a row. Detroit beat visiting Pittsburgh on New Year’s Eve 4-1. Howard was the No. 1 star with 37 saves. Gustav Nyquist had two goals and sits at 100 career. Dylan Larkin scored his first goal in seven games; he’s No. 1 on the team with 32 points (6G, 26 A). The Wings, who have won a season-high three straight home games, are just 27th in the NHL in scoring at 2.7 goals per game. Mantha leads the team with 13 goals – he has missed the past two games with a groin injury, though.
