Two clubs that’ve underperformed this year, the Ottawa Senators and the Florida Panthers meet at the BB&T Center in an Atlantic Division showdown. The match will get going at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 23 and it’ll be shown live on Sportsnet 360.
Ottawa Senators vs. Florida Panthers Odds
Florida is 14-21 straight up (SU) and has lost 8.4 units for moneyline bettors this year. That early-season winning percentage is fairly close to what the team posted during the 2016-17 season (35-47). Of its 35 games this season, 17 have gone over the total, while another 17 have gone under and none have pushed. This year, the team’s 7-9 SU at home.
The Panthers have converted on 17.3 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 20th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 80.3 percent of all penalties.
The Panthers, as a collective unit, have been called for penalties 4.5 times per game overall this season, and 3.8 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s had to kill penalties for just 8.2 minutes per game over their last five home outings.
Boasting a .903 save percentage and 27.8 saves per game, James Reimer (eight wins, 14 losses, and four OT losses) has been the primary option in goal for Florida this year. Reimer did just play last night, however, so head coach Bob Boughner might opt to rest him and instead turn to Roberto Luongo (6-9-9 record, .928 save percentage, 2.62 goals against average).
The Panthers will continue relying on offensive production from Vincent Trocheck and Jonathan Huberdeau. Trocheck (35 points) has tallied 14 goals and 21 assists and has recorded multiple points in six different games this year. Huberdeau has 11 goals and 23 assists to his credit and has recorded a point in 20 contests.
On the other side of the ice, Ottawa is 11-22 straight up (SU) and has lost 14.6 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 33 regular season outings, 17 of its games have gone over the total, while 16 have gone under and none have pushed. As the road team so far, the Senators are 5-11 SU.
The Senators have converted on just 16.5 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that’s ranked 24th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 25th overall and it’s successfully killed off 77.7 percent of all penalties.
Ottawa’s skaters have been whistled for penalties only 3.5 times per game in total this season, and 4.2 per game over their last five on the road. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 5.8 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Craig Anderson (25.5 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for Ottawa. Anderson owns a 10-16-4 record, and has registered a .900 save percentage and 3.04 goals against average this year.
Mark Stone (14 goals, 17 assists) will pace the attack for the visiting Senators.
Ottawa Senators vs. Florida Panthers Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Senators, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Over Ottawa’s last ten games, five of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 1-4 in those games).
The Panthers are 3-11 when the team serves fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 5-13 in games where they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 minutes, total.
Ottawa is 1-5 in games decided by a shootout this season while Florida is 2-2 in shootouts.
The under has hit in four of Florida’s last five games.
Florida is ranked 28th this season with 12.2 giveaways per game. That figure has trended down, however, as it’s averaged 10.3 giveaways over its last 10 games and 9.2 giveaways over its last five.
Ottawa skaters have averaged 8.2 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 9.9 giveaways per game (ranked 18th overall).
Ottawa skaters have dished out the league’s 11th-most hits per game (22.7).
