Pittsburgh Penguins (13-14-4) vs. Ottawa Senators (14-13-2)
December 14, 2024 7:00 pm EDT
The Line: Ottawa Senators -122 / Pittsburgh Penguins -101; Over/Under: +6.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Pittsburgh Penguins and the Ottawa Senators meet Saturday in NHL action from the Canadian Tire Center. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s an Ottawa Senators vs Pittsburgh Penguins Prediction.
Pittsburgh Penguins Recap
The Pittsburgh Penguins come into this one looking to build on their 9-2 blowout win over Montreal last time out. After this game, Pittsburgh will head home for a matchup with the Los Angeles Kings.
Penguins Looking For Consistency
Evgeni Malkin has 25 points with 6 goals and a team-high 19 assists while Sidney Crosby has a team-high 30 points of his own with a team-high 8 goals and 22 assists. Rickard Rakell has 22 points with 13 goals and 9 assists and Erik Karlsson has 19 points with 2 goals and 17 assists. Bryan Rust also has 20 points with 12 goals and 8 assists. In goal for the Penguins, Joel Blomqvist has gone 3-5 with a 3.60 GAA and a .904 save percentage while Tristan Jarry has gone 6-4-1 with a 3.65 GAA and an .884 save percentage this season. Alex Nedeljkovic is also 4-5-3 with a 3.37 GAA and a .882 save percentage on the year.
Why the Pittsburgh Penguins will win
- The Senators have lost each of their last six home games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
- The Penguins have won each of their last three games as underdogs against Atlantic Division opponents.
- The Senators have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last nine games as favorites against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The Penguins have covered the puck line in each of their last five games against Atlantic Division opponents.
Ottawa Senators Recap
The Ottawa Senators come into this one looking to add on to their 3-0 win over Carolina last time out. After this game, Ottawa will head back on the road to take on Seattle.
Senators Starting To Heat Up
Tim Stutzle leads the Senators with 36 points including 10 goals and 26 assists while Brady Tkachuk has 31 points with a team-high 14 goals and 17 assists. Drake Batherson has 32 points with 12 goals and 20 assists, Claude Giroux has 7 goals and 11 assists while Josh Norris has 19 points with 12 goals and 7 assists. Adam Gaudette also has 15 points with 13 goals this season. Linus Ullmark is 9-7-2 with a 2.55 GAA and a .909 save percentage in goal for Ottawa so far this year while Mads Sogaard is 1-0 with a 6.96 GAA and a .765 save percentage and Anton Forsberg is 4-6 with a 2.95 GAA and an .889 save percentage as well this season.
Why the Ottawa Senators will win
- The Penguins have lost each of their last 11 Saturday road games.
- The Senators have won each of their last four games against the Penguins.
- The Senators have covered the puck line in 10 of their last 11 games as home favorites on the second leg of a back-to-back.
- The Penguins have failed to cover the puck line in three of their last four night games following a road win.
Ottawa Senators vs Pittsburgh Penguins Prediction
I’m leaning towards Ottawa here. There’s no doubt that Pittsburgh’s offensive outburst against Montreal was impressive, but every time I seem ready to back Pittsburgh, they self-implode and completely fall flat. Ottawa plays their best at home and has won the last 4 meetings with Pittsburgh so I’ll side with the Senators to pick up another W at home here.
