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Ottawa Senators at Detroit Red Wings Matchup Preview 3/31/18

Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Two teams that have underperformed this season, the Ottawa Senators and the Detroit Red Wings face off at Little Caesars Arena in a divisional matchup. Sportsnet ONE will broadcast the game, which gets going at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 31.

Ottawa Senators at Detroit Red Wings Odds

The Red Wings are 29-49 straight up (SU) and have recorded -16.0 units for moneyline bettors this year. That early-season winning percentage is fairly close to what the team produced during the 2016-17 season (33-49). Out of the team’s 78 regular season outings, 43 of them have gone under the total, while 33 have gone over and just two have pushed. The team’s 15-23 SU at home this year.

Detroit has converted on just 17.0 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that places the team in the bottom-10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is rated 23rd overall, and it’s successfully killed off 78.0 percent of all penalties.

As a team, Detroit has been penalized 3.7 times per game overall this season, 4.0 per game over its past five games total, and 3.4 per game over its last five at home. The team has had to kill penalties for just 6.8 minutes per contest over its last five home games.

Averaging 26.6 saves per game with a .909 save percentage, Jimmy Howard (21-37-8) has been the best goalkeeper for the Red Wings this season. If they, however, choose to rest him, Detroit may turn to Petr Mrazek (8-14-14 record, .910 save percentage, 2.89 goals against average).

Dylan Larkin and Henrik Zetterberg will both be focal points for the Red Wings. Larkin (58 points) has put up 13 goals and 45 assists and has recorded multiple points on 11 separate occasions this year. Zetterberg has 10 goals and 40 assists to his name and has notched at least one point in 38 games.

Over on the other bench, Ottawa is 27-50 straight up (SU) and has lost 18.9 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 77 regular season outings, 41 of its games have gone over the total, while 36 have gone under and none have pushed. As an away team, Ottawa is 11-26 SU.

Ottawa has converted on just 16.9 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s ranked 26th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 30th overall and it’s successfully killed off 75.2 percent of all opponent power plays.

Ottawa’s skaters have been penalized 3.4 times per game this season, and 2.5 per game over their past ten games. The team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 5.9 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.

Craig Anderson (.899 save percentage and 3.28 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for Ottawa. Anderson is averaging 27.3 saves per game and owns a 23-32-6 record.

Mark Stone (20 goals, 42 assists) has been one of the most vital playmaking threats for the visiting Senators.

Ottawa Senators at Detroit Red Wings Betting Predictions

Pick: SU Winner – Senators, O/U – Over

Notes

Betting Notes

Detroit is 5-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Ottawa is 2-7 in shootouts.

The total has gone over in four of Detroit’s last five games.

Over Ottawa’s last ten games, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 2-4 in those games).

Ottawa skaters have given out the league’s fifth-most hits per game (24.2).

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Written by GMS Previews

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