Ottawa Senators vs New York Rangers Prediction — Ottawa Looks to Extend Its Late-Season Surge

There’s only a single NHL game tonight, but that’s okay because there are still some decent bets to be made on it. The Ottawa Senators are heading east to Madison Square Garden, and they’re playing some of their best hockey of the season. With a 36-24-9 record and a playoff push underway, Ottawa comes into tonight’s game with real urgency.

The New York Rangers, meanwhile, are trying to stop the bleeding of a 4-game skid in what has been a frustrating season. At 28-33-9 and sitting near the bottom of the Metro, New York is basically playing for pride down the stretch and just trying to sell some seats to die-hard fans.

Ottawa already proved earlier this season that it can overwhelm the Rangers offensively. Now the Senators will try to do it again in a rubber match that carries far more meaning for them in the standings.

Game Details

Tonight’s matchup takes place at Madison Square Garden in New York with puck drop set for 7:30 PM EDT.

Ottawa is taking the ice with a strong 36-24-9 record and sits in the middle of the Atlantic Division with 81 points. They’re not currently holding a wild card slot, but they’re not too far out. The Sens have been trending upward lately, posting a 7-2-1 record over their last 10 games while finding the back of the net with regularity.

New York has had a very different season, so their last few games won’t surprise you. The Rangers sit at 28-33-9 and have struggled to find consistency on both ends of the ice. Their recent form has been especially rough, with the team losing 4 straight games coming into this game. You could make the argument that they played decent teams, because they have, and they even took the Jets to a shootout, but this seems to be the common thread for them.

One of the biggest issues has been defense. The Rangers have allowed 224 goals this season while scoring only 195, leaving them with a -26 goal differential. That is the worst differential in the entire Eastern Conference.

Ottawa has been much more balanced. The Senators have scored 231 goals while allowing 213, giving them a positive +21 differential and one of the better offensive profiles in the Eastern Conference. That differential, despite their record, is in the upper half of the conference.

This will be the 3rd meeting between the teams this season, with the series currently tied 1-1. The Rangers took the first game 4-2 back in early December, but Ottawa delivered the most recent statement in the matchup with a dominant 8-4 victory in mid-January.

One of the best storylines of tonight’s game will also mark a milestone night for Mika Zibanejad, who is expected to skate in his 1,000th NHL game. Even if there aren’t many options to catch a game tonight, this alone will be fun to watch.

Odds and Betting Outlook

To no surprise, the bookmakers are clearly leaning toward Ottawa heading into this matchup.

The Senators are listed around -192 on the moneyline, while the Rangers come back near +160 as home underdogs. The game total is set at 6 goals.

The line just goes to show the current momentum gap between the two teams. Ottawa has been winning games and generating offense consistently and convincingly. New York, meanwhile, has struggled to stop opposing attacks or even find the back of the net.

Offensively, the Senators have a big edge. Ottawa averages 3.35 GF/G, compared to 2.79 GF/G for the Rangers.

Special teams are fairly close, which could bring this game a little closer than you might expect. New York’s power play sits slightly higher at 24.2%, while Ottawa converts at 22.9% of the time. However, both teams have struggled on the PK as the Senators rank near the bottom of the league at 74.6%, while the Rangers sit at 77.6%. Those numbers could make this a solid game.

Still, the main reason Ottawa sits as the favorite is simple — the Senators are playing better hockey right now and have more at stake in the standings. Their momentum is high, and their motivation is right there with it.

Ottawa’s Offense Is Driving the Push

Ottawa’s attack runs through Tim Stutzle, who has taken another step forward as one of the NHL’s most dangerous young forwards, with 72 points.

Stutzle leads the Senators with 32 goals and 40 assists, topping the team in every major scoring category.

His speed through the neutral zone constantly pressures opposing defenses and when he gets space, Ottawa’s offense tends to follow.

Drake Batherson adds a little depth and provides another major scoring threat with 27 goals and 33 assists on the season. His finishing ability around the net has been a huge asset during Ottawa’s recent surge.

Veteran forward Claude Giroux continues to play a key 2-way role as well. His +20 rating shows how effective he has been at controlling play and limiting mistakes.

Ottawa’s depth scoring has also been strong recently. In their latest 5-2 win over the Leafs, a few different players found the scoresheet. That kind of balanced production makes the Senators difficult to defend, and the Rangers don’t look like they’ll have an answer.

Rangers Searching For Consistency

Of course, the Rangers still have plenty of talent, but the results simply have not followed this season.

Offensively, Mika Zibanejad remains the centerpiece of the lineup. He leads the team with 30 goals and 67 points, continuing to produce despite the team’s struggles.

Artemi Panarin, as expected, has also been productive, leading the Rangers with 38 assists while continuing to drive offense with the man advantage.

Despite their latest losing streak, another bright spot has been Alexis Lafreniere, who has caught fire recently with 7 goals and 6 assists in the last 10 games.

So they can score, but in reality, defense has been the main issue. The Rangers allow 3.19 GA/G, one of the weaker defensive marks in the Eastern Conference.

Breakdowns in coverage and defensive zone turnovers have put their goaltenders under a ton of pressure.

On that point, goaltending remains capable but inconsistent. Igor Shesterkin carries a 2.56 GAA and .912 SV%, numbers that are respectable considering the defensive play in front of him. The 3.19 GA/G doesn’t really pair up with a .912 SV%, but when you’re getting shots fired at you with little to no help, it’s a bad combination.

If the Rangers hope to win this matchup, they will need a stronger defensive effort and fewer mistakes in their own zone.

Prediction and Best Bet

Clearly, NY has plenty of offensive talent, but the overall momentum clearly favors Ottawa.

The Sens are playing confident hockey, scoring regularly, and pushing hard for a playoff slot. Their offensive depth and recent form give them a strong advantage against a Rangers team struggling to stop opponents.

One thing we have to hand to the Rangers is that Madison Square Garden can provide energy, especially with Zibanejad’s milestone game, but Ottawa simply looks like the more complete team right now, and the home ice factor for the Rangers shouldn’t be an issue.

We expect the Senators to pressure New York’s defense early and create consistent scoring chances.

• Prediction: Senators 4, Rangers 2
• Best Bet: Ottawa Senators moneyline at-192

Ottawa’s current momentum, stronger offense, and playoff urgency make them the more reliable side in this matchup.