The Ottawa Senators and the Pittsburgh Penguins meet Sunday in NHL action from the PPG Paints Arena. 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.
Matchup History
The Ottawa Senators have won both meetings between these two teams this season, first a 3-2 OT win in Ottawa back on December 14th, 2024, before a 5-0 win in Pittsburgh back on January 11th, 2025. The wins made it a six-game head-to-head win streak in favor of the Senators coming into this game.
Ottawa Senators Recap
The Ottawa Senators will be looking to add on to their 3-2 win over the Blue Jackets last time out to improve their record to 39-28-5 on the year. After this game, Ottawa will head home for a game against the Buffalo Sabres.
Senators Win Back-To-Back Games
Tim Stutzle leads the Senators with 71 points including 21 goals and 50 assists while Brady Tkachuk has 55 points with a team-high 29 goals and 26 assists. Drake Batherson has 58 points with 20 goals and 38 assists and Claude Giroux has 14 goals and 32 assists while Jake Sanderson also has 49 points with 8 goals and 41 assists so far this season. Linus Ullmark is 21-13-3 with a 2.76 GAA and a .909 save percentage in goal for Ottawa so far this year while Mads Sogaard is 1-1 with a 5.24 GAA and a .800 save percentage and Anton Forsberg is 9-11-1 with a 2.75 GAA and an .897 save percentage as well this season. Leevi Merilainen has also gone 8-3-1 with a 1.99 GAA and a .925 save percentage this season.
Why the Ottawa Senators will win
- The Senators have won each of their last six games against the Penguins.
- The Penguins have lost 10 of their last 11 games against Atlantic Division opponents.
- The Senators have covered the puck line in each of their last eight road games following a home win.
- The Penguins have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last five night games against opponents on a winning streak.
Ottawa Senators Player Prop Facts
- Drake Batherson has scored a goal in five of the Senators’ last six games against the Penguins.
- Claude Giroux has recorded at least one assist in each of the Senators’ last six games against the Penguins.
- Drake Batherson has recorded at least one point in each of the Senators’ last eight games against Eastern Conference opponents.
- Adam Gaudette has recorded two assists against the Penguins this season – equal-most against any opponent.
Pittsburgh Penguins Recap
The Pittsburgh Penguins come into this game looking to bounce back from their 7-3 loss at the hands of the Buffalo Sabres last time out to slip to 29-34-11 on the year. After this game, the Penguins will head on the road for a game against the St. Louis Blues.
Penguins Drop Three Straight
Evgeni Malkin has 46 points with 15 goals and 31 assists while Sidney Crosby has a team-high 80 points of his own with 26 goals and 54 assists. Rickard Rakell has 63 points with 32 goals and 31 assists and Erik Karlsson has 50 points with 10 goals and 40 assists. Bryan Rust also has 55 points with 26 goals and 29 assists. In goal for the Penguins, Joel Blomqvist has gone 4-9-1 with a 3.81 GAA and an .885 save percentage while Tristan Jarry has gone 12-11-5 with a 3.33 GAA and an .888 save percentage this season. Alex Nedeljkovic is also 13-14-5 with a 3.19 GAA and an .892 save percentage on the year.
Why the Pittsburgh Penguins will win
- The Senators have lost seven of their last eight games at PPG Paints Arena following a win.
- The home team has won seven of the Penguins’ last eight games.
- The Senators have failed to cover the puck line in 23 of their last 26 games as favorites against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The Penguins have covered the puck line in seven of their last eight games as home underdogs against opponents on a winning streak.
Pittsburgh Penguins Player Prop Facts
- Rickard Rakell has scored at least one goal in four of the Penguins’ last five home games against Eastern Conference opponents.
- Sidney Crosby has recorded at least one assist in seven of the Penguins’ last eight home games against Atlantic Division opponents.
- Sidney Crosby has recorded at least one point in each of the Penguins’ last 12 home games against opponents who are playing on the second leg of a back-to-back.
- Philip Tomasino has recorded two blocks against the Senators this season – equal-most against any opponent.
Total Goals Facts
- Each of the Penguins’ last seven games have gone OVER the total goals line.
- Each of the Senators’ last four games as road favorites on the second leg of a back-to-back have gone OVER the total goals line.
- Eight of the last nine Sunday night games between two teams from the Eastern Conference have gone OVER the total goals line.
Ottawa Senators vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Prediction
I’m on the Senators here. It’s not an ideal rest spot for the Senators on a back-to-back with travel on the road where they’ve been less effective this season but the Senators are also playing the better hockey by a fair margin as of late. Now a lot of Pittsburgh’s recent struggles came on the road and they’ve been better at home, but I just feel like the Senators are laser focused on locking up a playoff spot and the Penguins have done nothing but disappoint me all year long. I’ll back Ottawa on the road here.