The Ottawa Senators (33-31-5) open a 2-game road trip against the Pittsburgh Penguins (34-25-10) Monday. Puck drop from PPG Paints Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Senators vs. Penguins odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Senators remain in the mix for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, but they have slipped 7 points out of the final wild-card spot in 12th place. Ottawa has done itself no favors lately, picking up just 1 out of a possible 10 points in the past 5 games (0-4-1).
The Penguins have dropped 3 straight games, including back-to-back losses in New York against the Rangers by a combined 10-2 score.
These teams split a home-and-home set on Jan. 18-20. The Senators won 5-4 in OT on home ice on Jan. 18 and the Pens picked up a 4-1 victory at PPG Paints Arena on Jan. 20.
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Senators at Penguins odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:34 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Senators +145 (bet $100 to win $145) | Penguins -170 (bet $170 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Senators +1.5 (-170) | Penguins -1.5 (+145)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -130 | U: +110)
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Senators at Penguins projected goalies
Mads Sogaard (5-4-2, 3.49 GAA, .881 SV%) vs. Tristan Jarry (20-9-6, 3.03 GAA, .907 SV%, 1 SO)
Sogaard allowed 4 goals on 29 shots in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday. The Danish netminder has allowed 4 or more goals in 6 straight starts, posting an .845 SV% and a 1-4-1 record over that span.
Jarry allowed 7 goals on 51 shots in the Thursday and Saturday games with the Rangers and was yanked in the 2nd period Saturday. The 27-year-old is 1-2-1 with 17 goals on 115 shots (.852 SV%) over his last 5 appearances.
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Senators at Penguins picks and predictions
Prediction
Penguins 5, Senators 2
Moneyline
The PENGUINS (-170) come in slightly below my personal limit for a standalone moneyline play of -180. Neither team is playing particularly well, so there is some risk here, but the Senators are in an 0-4-1 nosedive. The Sens are just 4-23 in the past 27 trips to Pittsburgh, so obviously that’s another good reason to back the home team.
Puck line/Against the spread
The PENGUINS -1.5 (+145) is worth a look at plus money on the puck line, especially since the home team has been so dominant in this series of late.
Pittsburgh has not only won each of the past 11 home meetings with Ottawa dating back to April 13, 2014, but the last 8 of those meetings, and 9 of the last 10, have come by 2 or more goals.
Over/Under
The OVER 6.5 (-130) is the lean, but go with a half-unit play at most, as you need to lay a lot of juice.
The Over is 10-2 in the past 12 games overall for the Senators and is 5-2 in their last 7 games on the road.
The Under is 4-1 in the past 5 games overall for the Pens, but the Over is 6-2-1 in their past 9 at home and is 6-2 in the past 8 meetings in this series.
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