Canadian Tire Centre plays host to a divisional matchup as the Ottawa Senators welcome the visiting Florida Panthers. The action will get started at 7:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 20, and you are able to see it live on Fox SportsNet Florida.
Florida Panthers vs. Ottawa Senators Odds
Florida (+115) is currently the underdog to Florida (-135). The Over/Under (O/U), set at an even 6 goals, initially opened at -120 for the over and +100 for the under. That line has since shifted however, and it now sits at -125 over and +105 under.
Florida is 36-34 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.6 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 35 of its games have gone over the total, while 33 have gone under and just one has pushed. The Panthers are 14-20 SU on the road in 2017-18.
Florida has converted on 19.4 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. 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 sent to the penalty box 4.3 times per game this season, 4.6 per game over its last five contests total, and 4.6 per game over its last five road outings. The team has been forced to kill penalties an unhealthy 14.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 28.2 saves per game with a .910 save percentage, James Reimer (17-20-5) has been the primary option in goal for Florida this season. If head coach Bob Boughner decides to rest him, however, Florida may go with Roberto Luongo (15-13-3), who has a .928 save percentage and 2.53 goals against average this year.
Aleksander Barkov and Vincent Trocheck will both lead the offensive attack for the visiting Panthers. Barkov has 71 points on 26 goals and 45 assists, and has recorded multiple points 20 times. Trocheck has 28 goals and 38 assists to his name (and has logged a point in 47 games).
Ottawa is 26-45 straight up (SU) and has lost 15.1 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 37 of its outings have gone over the total, while 34 have gone under and none have pushed. It’s 15-20 SU at home this year.
The Senators have converted on just 17.0 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s ranked 27th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 30th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 75.1 percent of all opponent power plays.
Senators skaters have been called for penalties 3.5 times per game in total this season, and 2.6 per game over their last five home outings. The team has had to kill penalties just 6.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Craig Anderson has stopped 27.6 shots per game as the primary netminder in goal for the Senators. Anderson has 22 wins, 29 losses, and six OT losses to his name and has maintained a mediocre 3.21 goals against average and a fairly-weak .902 save percentage this season.
Mark Stone (20 goals, 42 assists) will pace the offensive counter for the Senators.
Florida Panthers vs. Ottawa Senators Betting Predictions
Free Pick: SU Winner – Panthers, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
Ottawa is 2-7 in games decided by a shootout this season while Florida is 3-3 in shootouts.
The under has hit in three of Ottawa’s last five games.
The Panthers have averaged the league’s most shots on goal (34.5) and Ottawa has attempted just the 26th-most (30.4).
Seven of Florida’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 5-2 in those games.
The Sens this season have handed the eighth-most hits per game (24.0), but the team’s averaged 28.2 over their past five home outings.
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