In a game that features two squads currently on winning streaks, the Ottawa Senators and the Columbus Blue Jackets face off at Nationwide Arena for an Eastern Conference showdown. The action gets started at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 17, and it will air live on CiTV.
Ottawa Senators vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Odds
Columbus (-235) is currently favored over Ottawa (+195) and the oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The line for betting that total stands at -115 money on the over and -105 on the under.
Columbus is 38-33 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.6 units for moneyline bettors thus far. That winning percentage, the third-best in the Metropolitan Division in this young season, is a regression from the 50-32 record that the team managed during the 2016-17 season campaign. 37 of its 71 games have gone under the total, while 33 have gone over and just one has pushed. This season, the team is 23-13 SU at home.
The Blue Jackets have converted on just 15.1 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that’s ranked 31st overall in the NHL. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 26th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 77.3 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, the Blue Jackets have been called for penalties just 3.0 times per game overall this season, 2.6 per game over their past five outings total, and 2.6 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s had to defend opponent power plays for just 6.6 minutes per game over their last 10 matchups, in total.
Averaging 28.1 saves per game with a .920 save percentage, Sergei Bobrovsky (31-26-5) has been the primary option in goal for Columbus this season. If the Jackets, however, decide to give him a rest, Columbus might go with Joonas Korpisalo (7-8-8 record, .902 save percentage, 3.19 goals against average).
The Jackets will continue relying on offensive production out of Artemi Panarin and Seth Jones. Panarin (63 points) has put up 21 goals and 42 assists and has recorded two or more points in 12 different games this year. Jones has 14 goals and 35 assists to his credit and has recorded at least one point in 35 games.
Ottawa is 26-44 straight up (SU) and has lost 15.4 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. A total of 37 of its contests have gone over the total, while 32 have gone under and none have pushed. The Senators are 11-24 SU as an away team this season.
The Senators have converted on just 17.1 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that places them in the bottom-10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 29th overall and it’s successfully defended 75.4 percent of all opponent power plays.
Ottawa’s skaters have been penalized 3.5 times per game in total this season, and 2.9 per game over their last ten games. The team’s been forced to defend opponent power plays just 6.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Craig Anderson (27.6 saves per game) has been the main option in the net for Ottawa. Anderson has 22 wins, 29 losses, and six OT losses to his credit, and has registered a .902 save percentage and 3.21 goals against average this year.
Mark Stone (20 goals, 42 assists) has been one of the most vital facilitators on offense for the visiting Senators.
Ottawa Senators at Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Predictions
Free NHL Pick: SU Winner – Blue Jackets, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Notes
Over Columbus’ last ten outings, seven of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-2 in those games).
Ottawa has scored 2.8 goals per game overall this year, but is scoring 5.0 per match up in their last three games (the team’s a perfect 3-0 SU during that span)
The Senators are 11-21 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 18-29 when they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 total minutes.
Ottawa is 2-7 in games decided by a shootout this season while Columbus is 6-4 in shootouts.
Columbus could hold the upper hand if this one comes down to the wire. The team’s 20-11 in games decided by one goal, while Ottawa is 16-23 in such games.
The total has gone over in three of Columbus’ last five games.
Columbus has scored 2.8 goals per game overall this season, but has upped that figure to 4.3 per contest over its six-game win streak.
Columbus skaters have averaged 6.1 giveaways per game (the 4th-fewest in the NHL).
Ottawa has averaged 7.2 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 9.8 giveaways per game (ranked 17th in the NHL).
Ottawa skaters have accounted for the league’s sixth-most hits per game (24.0).
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