PPG Paints Arena is the site for an Eastern Conference tilt as the Ottawa Senators come into town to face the Pittsburgh Penguins. It’s the third and last time that the two clubs will meet in the regular season. AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh will broadcast the game, and the action gets underway at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, April 6.
Ottawa Senators vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Odds
Pittsburgh is 46-35 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. Of the team’s 81 games this season, 46 have gone over the total, while 32 have gone under and just two have pushed. This season, the team’s 29-11 SU at home.
The Penguins enter the matchup with the strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as they have converted on 26.4 percent of their extra-man chances this season. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 20th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 79.7 percent of all penalties.
As a team, the Penguins have been penalized 4.0 times per game overall this season, 3.8 per game over their past five matchups total, and 3.8 per game over their last five home outings. The team has been forced to kill penalties for 8.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings, in total.
With a .907 save percentage and 26.3 saves per game, Matt Murray (29-20-3) has been the primary goalkeeper for Pittsburgh this year. Murray did just play last night, however, so Pittsburgh might choose to give him a rest and instead go with Tristan Jarry (15-11-11 record, .908 save percentage, 2.77 goals against average).
The Pens will continue looking for leadership out of Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel. Malkin (97 points) has tallied 42 goals and 55 assists and has recorded multiple points 26 times this year. Kessel has 33 goals and 57 assists to his credit and has notched a point in 55 contests.
On the other bench, Ottawa is 28-52 straight up (SU) and has lost 19.7 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. Through 80 regular season outings, 43 of its games have gone over the total, while 37 have gone under and none have pushed. As an away team, the Senators are 12-27 SU.
The Senators have converted on just 16.9 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s ranked 25th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 28th overall and it’s successfully killed off 75.9 percent of all opponent power plays.
Ottawa’s skaters have been penalized 3.4 times per game in total this season, and 2.8 per game over their past ten match ups. The team has had to defend opponent power plays just 5.9 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Craig Anderson (3.31 goals against average and .899 save percentage) has been the main option in goal for Ottawa. Anderson is averaging 27.5 saves per game and has 24 wins, 33 losses, and six overtime losses to his credit.
Erik Karlsson (nine goals, 53 assists) has been one of the top facilitators on offense for the visiting Senators.
Ottawa Senators vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Free Picks
NHL Tip: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Ottawa is 2-7 in games decided by a shootout this season while Pittsburgh is 2-2 in shootouts.
The over has hit in four of Pittsburgh’s last five games.
Ottawa has managed 28.0 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Pittsburgh has been attempting 36.8 shots per game over its last five home outings.
Over Ottawa’s last ten games, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 1-5 in those games).
This game features two of the more aggressive teams in the league. Ottawa skaters have accounted for the seventh-most hits in the league (23.9 per game) and the Pens have handed the eighth-most (23.8).
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