Two teams meeting for the second time this season, the New York Rangers and the Ottawa Senators face off at Canadian Tire Centre for an Eastern Conference showdown. The match gets started at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday, December 13 and it’s being televised live on Sportsnet.
New York Rangers at Ottawa Senators Odds
New York is 16-14 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 30 regular season outings, 18 of its games have gone over the total, while 10 have gone under and just two have pushed. This 2017-18 Rangers team is 4-6 SU on the road.
New York has converted on 20.2 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. Additionally, its penalty kill is ranked 10th overall, and the team’s successfully killed off 82.5 percent of all penalties.
The Broadway Blueshirts, as a collective unit, have been penalized just 3.7 times per game in the 2017-18 season, 3.2 per game over its past five total, and 4.0 per game over its last five on the road. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 7.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 27.6 saves per game with a .916 save percentage, Henrik Lundqvist (14-11-2) has been the top option in goal for New York this season. If it decides to rest him, however, the team could go with Ondrej Pavelec (2-6-1), who has a .914 save percentage and 3.04 goals against average this year.
Mats Zuccarello and J.T. Miller will both be relied on to produce for the visiting Rangers. Zuccarello (24 points) has tallied seven goals and 17 assists, and has recorded two or more points six times. Miller has four goals and 18 assists to his name (and has registered a point in 16 games).
Over on the other bench, Ottawa is 9-20 straight up (SU) and has lost 13.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 29 regular season outings, 15 of its games have gone over the total, while 13 have gone under and none have pushed. It’s 4-10 SU at home this season.
The Senators have converted on just 15.6 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that places them in the bottom overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 29th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 76.5 percent of all opponent power plays.
Ottawa players have been sent to the penalty box only 3.6 times per game in total this season, 4.2 per game over their past five games total, and 4.2 per game over their last five at home. The team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays 8.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Craig Anderson (24.5 saves per game) has been the top selection in goal for the Senators. Anderson has eight wins, 14 losses, and three overtime losses and has maintained a subpar .895 save percentage and 3.11 goals against average this year.
Mark Stone (14 goals, 12 assists) will pace the attack for the Sens.
New York Rangers at Ottawa Senators Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Senators, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
New York is 1-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while Ottawa is 1-4 in shootouts.
The total has gone under in three of Ottawa’s last five games.
Ottawa has averaged 2.7 goals per game overall this year, but has been averaging 1.0 goal per contest over its five-game losing streak.
Over New York’s last ten games, five of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 4-1 in those games).
The Sens this season have registered the 11th-most hits per game (22.4).
