The Ottawa Senators (27-25-4) travel to face the Carolina Hurricanes (38-10-8), who will be out to build on their winning run, at PNC Arena on Friday. Ottawa is coming off a 3-1 loss against the Bruins on Monday. The Senators committed five penalties in the game, though they held Boston without a power play goal.
Claude Giroux scored the only goal for the Senators. Kevin Mandolese only had 29 saves on 32 shots against (.906%) in the loss. Carolina won for the fourth straight game, beating the Blues 4-1 on Tuesday. Andrei Svechnikov was the leading goal scorer for the Hurricanes, netting twice. Frederik Andersen was impressive in the win, making 35 saves (.972%).
HEAD TO HEAD
The Senators won two of the three games between the teams last season, including a 4-3 victory in their final meeting in February. Brady Tkachuk (2G 0A), Tim Stuetzle (0G 2A), and Nick Holden (0G 2A) each had two points to lead Ottawa. Vincent Trocheck, Svechnikov, and Brendan Smith were on the scoresheet for Carolina. Anton Forsberg got the win, saving 42 of 45 shots (.933%).
FACING OFF
Ottawa is averaging 3.04 goals per game for the season, 20th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Hurricanes team that is allowing only 2.61 goals a game (4th).
Meanwhile, Carolina has found the net 3.38 times a game on average, ninth in the league, and the Senators are allowing opponents to score 3.20 goals per game (20th).
Carolina averages more shots per game (35.0) than most teams in the league, ranking third, though the team’s 9.8% shooting percentage is 19th.
With an average of 33.3 attempts, Ottawa ranks eighth. Look for several power play opportunities for the Hurricanes, as the Senators are averaging 4.59 penalties per game, third-most in the NHL.
The visitors’ 11.21 penalty minutes a game ranks sixth-highest. The home team has been penalized 3.80 times a game (14th) for an average of 8.05 minutes (26th).
The Senators’ 25.84% power play percentage is the third-best in the league, while the Hurricanes rank 22nd with a conversion rate of 20.00%. Ottawa has been equally strong at penalty killing, boasting the league’s fifth-highest PK% at 82.27%. Carolina ranks eighth at 82.01%.
TOP PERFORMERS:
Tkachuk and Stuetzle have been the top skaters for the Senators this season with 60 and 59 points. In the net, Cam Talbot (12-13-1) is Ottawa’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 2.90 GAA and a .905% save percentage.
Martin Necas (51 points), Sebastian Aho (50), and Svechnikov (49) lead the Hurricanes in scoring. Necas has 22 goals and 29 assists, while Aho has 25 goals and 25 assists in 49 games. Svechnikov has 21 goals and 28 assists.
Pyotr Kochetkov (10-4-5) has the best goals against average for Carolina at 2.33. He has a save percentage of .913%. Antti Raanta (14-2-3) has played the most games in net for the Hurricanes this season. He has a 2.44 GAA and a .902% save percentage.
HOME AND AWAY
Ottawa is 11-13-2 away from Canadian Tire Centre this season. Carolina has won three in a row at home this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Carolina Hurricanes (-250)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
