The Ottawa Senators (35-32-5) travel to meet the New Jersey Devils (45-19-8) Saturday. Puck drop from Prudential Center is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Senators vs. Devils odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Senators enter play 5 points out of a wild card spot in the Eastern Conference with 10 games left in the regular season. Ottawa is coming off perhaps its most complete game of the season, a 7-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning Thursday as short ‘dogs at home.
The Devils were tripped up 5-4 in Buffalo Friday night, and now face the quick turnaround. New Jersey remains 2 points behind the Carolina Hurricanes for 1st place in the Metropolitan Division, with the Canes having 2 games in hand, too.
The last time these teams played Nov. 19 in Ottawa, the Devils posted a 5-1 win. Jersey also won the 1st meeting in Newark by a 4-3 count in OT Nov. 10.
[gambcom-standard rankid=”3011″ ]
[gambcom-standard rankid=”3012″ ]
[betwidget_tipico]
Senators at Devils odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:25 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Senators +155 (bet $100 to win $155) | Devils -180 (bet $180 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Senators +1.5 (-155) | Devils -1.5 (+135)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -125 | U: +105)
Stream the NHL all season on ESPN+, with your team’s out-of-market games, exclusive games, originals and more. Get ESPN+ now!
Senators at Devils projected goalies
Mads Sogaard (6-5-2, 3.27 GAA, .890 SV%) vs. Vitek Vanecek (29-8-4, 2.49 GAA, .909 SV%, 3 SO)
Sogaard was the beneficiary of all that offensive support in the 7-2 win over the Lightning last time out, while turning aside 27 of the 29 shots he faced. Despite the win, he is still just 2-5-1 with a 3.88 GAA and .870 SV% in 8 March outings.
Vanecek was thrust into action Friday, turning aside 17 of the 19 shots he faced in relief of an ineffective Akira Schmid. The latter coughed up 3 goals on just 7 shots in 10:55 of work.
Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!
Senators at Devils picks and predictions
Prediction
Devils 4, Senators 3
Moneyline
The Devils (-180) are right at my personal limit for a singular moneyline play. However, I don’t like New Jersey in this one, as that’s quite expensive for a team that isn’t playing very well. This should be a very close game, too, especially since the Devils are playing the 2nd end of a back-to-back set, and Vanecek is working on little rest after being thrust into action.
PASS.
Puck line/Against the spread
The SENATORS +1.5 (-155) aren’t priced out of line if you want a little insurance and can’t bring yourself to play the underdogs straight up.
Ottawa is a perfect 5-0 on the puck line in the past 5 games as an underdog, while New Jersey is 0-4 in the past 4 games on the puck line as a favorite.
Over/Under
The OVER 6.5 (-125) is worth a look, but go lightly with a half-unit play at best.
The Over is 6-1 in the past 7 for Ottawa against winning teams, while going 11-4 in the past 15 games overall. The Over and Under has alternated in the past 5 games for the Devils, and the Over hit in the 1st meeting between these teams in Newark back in November.
[gambcom-standard rankid=”5″ ]
For sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Plus, try out the USA TODAY Parlay Calculator and please gamble responsibly.
Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1369]