Canadian Tire Centre will be the site for a divisional matchup as the Florida Panthers travel north to to meet the Ottawa Senators. It’s the fourth and last time that these two clubs will go at it in the regular season. The opening face-off takes place at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 29, and fans at home can catch it live on Fox SportsNet Florida.
Florida Panthers at Ottawa Senators Odds
Florida (+145) is currently the underdog to Florida (-165), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at an even 6 goals (-120 to bet the over, +100 for the under).
Florida is 39-36 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 2.4 units this year. Through 75 regular season matches, 37 of its games have gone over the total, while 36 have gone under and just one has pushed. As a road team in 2017-18, the Panthers are 16-22 SU.
Florida has converted on 18.8 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 13th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.1 percent of all penalties.
The Panthers, as a collective unit, have been penalized 4.2 times per game this season, and 2.6 per game over its last five. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays just 5.2 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Averaging 28.4 saves per game with a .914 save percentage, James Reimer (20-20-5) has been the best option in goal for Florida this season. If Florida chooses to rest him, however, head coach Bob Boughner might go with Roberto Luongo (15-15-3), who has a .926 save percentage and 2.60 goals against average this year.
Aleksander Barkov and Vincent Trocheck will both lead the way for the visiting Panthers. Barkov has 75 points via 26 goals and 49 assists, and has recorded multiple points 21 times. Trocheck has 30 goals and 40 assists to his name (and has registered a point in 48 games).
On the other side of the rink, Ottawa is 26-50 straight up (SU) and has lost 20.4 units for moneyline bettors this year. 41 of its outings have gone over the total, while 35 have gone under and none have pushed. This season, the team’s 15-24 SU at home.
The Senators have converted on just 17.0 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that places them in the bottom 10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 30th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 75.5 percent of all penalties.
Senators skaters have been whistled for penalties only 3.4 times per game in total this season, and 2.4 per game over their last five home outings. The team has had to kill penalties just 5.9 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Craig Anderson (27.4 saves per game) has been the top selection in goal for the Senators. Anderson has 22 wins, 32 losses, and six OT losses to his credit and has maintained a poor .899 save percentage and 3.31 goals against average this season.
Mark Stone (20 goals, 42 assists) will lead the offensive attack for the Senators.
Florida Panthers at Ottawa Senators Free Picks
NHL Pick: SU Winner – Senators, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
38.5 percent of Ottawa’s wins have come by two or more goals (the team is 10-25 overall in such games) while 56.4 percent of Florida’s wins have come by two goals or more (22-20 overall in games decided by at least two goals).
The extra-man advantage could play a critical role tonight. The Panthers are 16-19 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 19-23 in games where they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 total minutes. The Senators are 11-24 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 18-34 when they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
Florida is 3-3 in games decided by a shootout this season while Ottawa is 2-7 in shootouts.
The over has hit in four of Ottawa’s last five games.
Ottawa has allowed 3.6 goals per game overall this season, but has allowed 4.7 goals per contest over its six-game losing skid.
Ottawa is ranked 19th this season with 9.9 giveaways per game. That figure has regressed recently, as the team’s averaged 11.0 giveaways over its last 10 games and 12.0 giveaways over its last five.
Florida has averaged 10.2 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 13.0 giveaways per game (ranked 31st in the NHL).
The Senators this season have registered the fifth-most hits in the league (24.2 per game).
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