Canadian Tire Centre is playing host an Eastern Conference clash as the Ottawa Senators face off against the visiting New York Islanders. It’s the third and final time that these two clubs will go at it in the regular season. MSG Network will air the game, and the puck drops at 7:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 27.
New York Islanders at Ottawa Senators Odds
With a moneyline of -115, Ottawa comes into the matchup as the slight favorite. The line for New York sits at -105 and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 7 goals. The line for betting that total stands at -120 over, +100 under.
New York is 31-45 straight up (SU) and has lost 12.9 units for moneyline bettors this year. 45 of its games have gone over the total, while 27 have gone under and just three have pushed. As the away team this season, the Isles are 14-24 SU.
New York has converted on 22.0 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 30th out of 31 teams, and it has successfully killed off only 74.5 percent of its penalties.
The Isles, as a collective unit, have been sent to the penalty box just 3.4 times per game overall this season, and 4.4 per game over its last five road outings. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 7.2 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Averaging 29.2 saves per game with a .906 save percentage, Jaroslav Halak (18-34-6) has been the best option in goal for New York this season. If head coach Doug Weight chooses to rest him, however, the team might turn to Thomas Greiss (12-12-2), who has a .891 save percentage and 3.84 goals against average this year.
John Tavares and Mathew Barzal will both spearhead the attack for the visiting Islanders. Tavares (78 points) is up to 33 goals and 45 assists, and has recorded two or more points in 23 different games. Barzal has 20 goals and 56 assists to his credit (and has logged a point in 45 games).
On the other side of the ice, Ottawa is 26-49 straight up (SU) and has lost 18.1 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 75 regular season matches, 40 of its games have gone over the total, while 34 have gone under and none have pushed. This season, the team’s 15-23 SU as the home team.
The Senators have converted on just 16.8 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 28th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 75.7 percent of all opponent power plays.
Ottawa players have been penalized only 3.4 times per game in total this season, and 2.2 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 5.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Craig Anderson (27.4 saves per game) has been the top choice in goal for the Senators. Anderson has 22 wins, 32 losses, and six OT losses to his credit and has recorded a pedestrian 3.31 goals against average and a fairly-weak .899 save percentage this year.
Mark Stone (20 goals, 42 assists) will pace the offensive counter for the Senators.
New York Islanders at Ottawa Senators Betting Predictions
NHL Pick: SU Winner – Senators, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Ottawa is 2-7 in games decided by a shootout this season while New York is 3-3 in shootouts.
The over has hit in three of Ottawa’s last five games.
Ottawa has averaged 2.7 goals per game overall this season, but has been averaging 1.6 goals per contest over its five-game losing streak.
Over New York’s last ten games, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 2-4 in those games).
The Senators this season have registered the fifth-most hits per game (24.1).
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