Ottawa Senators vs. Nashville Predators Prediction and Props

The Ottawa Senators take on the Nashville Predators tonight at Bridgestone Arena in a matchup that, surprisingly, could go down to the wire. As the only NHL game on the slate today, Ottawa holds the upper hand in recent form, but Nashville has home ice.

Before you load up your bet slip, we’ve got the analysis, expert prediction, and even some props you might want to check out for this game.

Senators vs. Predators: Odds and Key Insights

The Senators are coming into this game with a respectable 28-20-4 record which is good for 60 points and 3rd in the Atlantic Division. Meanwhile, the Predators are struggling with their 18-26-7 record which is well outside playoff contention in the Central Division.

Despite Ottawa’s stronger season, Nashville is just a slight favorite at -118 odds on the moneyline, while Ottawa comes in at -102. Simply looking at the records alone, you wouldn’t expect the odds for this game to be nearly even, but they are.

The over/under is set at 5.5 goals, which is pretty low by most standards. It really reflects 2 teams with differing scoring trends. Ottawa averages 2.83 goals per game, while Nashville scores slightly less at 2.61 goals per game. Neither have high-powered offenses, so this could be a game fought in the trenches.

Despite this, both teams have solid individual performers. For Ottawa, Tim Stutzle leads the way with a solid 52 points spanning 17 goals and 35 assists, while Filip Forsberg carries Nashville with 49 points consisting of 18 goals and 31 assists. Both of these players are expected to start tonight and will look to carry their team to a victory.

Ottawa Senators Are Coming In Hot

Ottawa is in solid form, going 7-2-1 in its last 10 games.

Their recent stretch includes a massive 6-0 shutout over Minnesota — which is no easy task — and a gritty 2-1 win against Toronto. This goes to show their ability to win both high-scoring and defensive battles.

Goaltender Linus Ullmark has been fairly consistent, and he’s boasting a .915 save percentage and a 2.38 GAA. He gives Ottawa an edge in the crease over Nashville’s struggling tandem of Juuse Saros and J. Annunen.

However, Ottawa’s depth could be tested.

Key contributors like Nick Jensen and Josh Norris are questionable for this game and both are listed as day-to-day. Their absence would put more pressure on top players like Brady Tkachuk and Stutzle to deliver offensively.

Nashville Predators Are Struggling

The Predators have had a rough season so far. With inconsistent play leading to a 5-5 record in their last 10 games, they’re not looking so hot. In fact, they’re on a 4 game-losing streak.

While they’ve shown a few flashes of promise, including a 5-2 win over Anaheim, they’ve also been prone to blowout losses, like the 6-0 defeat against Pittsburgh just a few nights ago. So, it’s tough to say what you’ll get with the Preds on any given night.

Goaltending has been a weak spot for Nashville as well.

Juuse Saros has a 2.84 GAA and a subpar .902 save percentage, which has been a big reason for their struggles. That’s not to say he can’t have a good game as he’s already had a few shutouts this season which include the Canucks, Rangers, and the Utah Hockey Club.

Beyond that, injuries to key players like Mark Jankowski and Luke Evangelista limit their depth, though, probably not as much as Jensen and Norris limit the Senator’s depth.

Our Prediction and Best Bet

The Senators definitely have the momentum going into tonight’s only NHL game. They have the goaltending advantage, and what we’d call a more balanced attack.

While Nashville might have the edge of playing at home, their defensive inconsistencies and struggles between the pipes make them a riskier bet.

Ottawa’s special teams also shine brighter, as they’ve been better on both the power play and penalty kill this season, though, not what we’d call notable.

• HelloRookie’s Prediction: Senators 4, Predators 2
• Best Bet: The Ottawa Senators ML at -102

Their superior form and edge in key areas should be enough to outlast the Predators, even in Nashville.

If you’re looking for another game bet, we also like the over 5.5 goals. Both teams have been involved in high-scoring games as of late, and with Nashville’s defensive lapses, this one could easily hit the over by the end of the 2nd period.

We’re expecting Ottawa to take care of business and keep pushing for playoff positioning.

Player Props to Watch for Senators vs. Predators

If you’re looking for a few player props to spice up your bet slip, these are the best player prop bets for the night.

• Claude Giroux Over 0.5 Assists (+135). Giroux has been a playmaking machine lately. He’s recorded an assist in each of the Senators’ last 4 games and is not slowing down. With Ottawa’s recent form, we think he’s a strong candidate to stay hot.
• Jonathan Marchessault Over 0.5 Assists (+130). Marchessault has been absolutely reliable at home. He’s notched at least one assist in 6 of the Predators’ last 7 games at Bridgestone Arena. His consistency on home ice makes this a solid value bet you won’t want to pass up.
• Brady Skjei Over 0.5 Assists (+230). Skjei thrives against Ottawa and his record shows it. He’s logged an assist in 5 of his last 6 matchups against the Senators and knows how to set up big plays. At these odds, it’s a high-reward option for your bet slip.

These player props offer a few exciting angles to bet on individual player performances that could complement your main game bets. We wish we had an anytime goalscorer to throw on there, but unfortunately, the trends don’t point to a really good one so we’re going to hold off on that for today’s game.