The Ottawa Senators (13-17-1) pay a visit to the rival Montreal Canadiens (14-11-6) Wednesday at Bell Centre for a 7:30 p.m. ET puck drop. We analyze the Senators-Canadiens sports betting odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.
Senators at Canadiens: Projected starting goalies
Anders Nilsson vs. Cayden Primeau
Nilsson is expected to get a run of starts with Craig Anderson (lower body) sidelined by injury. He stopped 38 of 40 shots in a win over the Boston Bruins on Monday. He’s 8-8-1 on the season with a .913 save percentage and 3.03 goals against average.
Primeau is expected to relieve starter Carey Price on the second half of the Canadiens’ back-to-back. The 2017 seventh-round pick allowed three goals on 35 shots and took the loss in his NHL debut against Colorado last Thursday.
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Senators at Canadiens: Odds, picks and betting tips
Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Wednesday at 1:10 p.m. ET.
Prediction
Senators 5, Canadiens 3
Moneyline (ML)
The Canadiens (-176) are coming off a 4-1 road win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday. The SENATORS (+145) shocked the Bruins 5-2 Monday and enter as the better-rested team. Ottawa claimed a 2-1 overtime victory in the first meeting of the season between the two Atlantic Division opponents, back on Nov. 20 at Montreal.
Montreal is just 7-7-3 on home ice, and while Ottawa is a lowly 5-12-1 on the road, it’s the value play Wednesday against an opponent it knocked off already this season.
New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Sens to win in regulation, overtime or a shootout returns a profit of $14.50.
Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
The SENATORS (+1.5, -162) should also be played on the puck line, albeit as a less-rewarding wager with the single goal of insurance in the event of a loss. The Sens are 18-13 ATS overall and 9-9 on the road. The Habs are 16-15 ATS overall but just 6-11 on home ice. We’re betting against the inexperience of Primeau and the tired team in front of him.
Over/Under (O/U)
Both teams are 5-5 against the O/U across their last 10 games. Take the OVER 6.5 (+110) with the Senators tacking on a few extra goals against the backup goaltender.
Esten’s NHL betting record: 113-94
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