The Chicago Blackhawks (21-36-5), one of the league’s top penalty killing teams, welcome the Ottawa Senators (32-26-4) and their weak power play offense at United Center on Monday.
Ottawa is kicking off a five-game road trip coming off a 5-2 win over the Blue Jackets on Saturday, their fifth win in a row. The Senators conceded a power play goal while failing to take advantage of their own power play opportunities.
Tim Stuetzle and Travis Hamonic both scored twice for the Senators. Cam Talbot allowed two goals on 21 shots against (.904%) in the win.
Chicago dropped their fourth in a row, falling 3-1 to the Predators on Saturday. Seth Jones was the only player to score for the Blackhawks. Petr Mrazek saved 22 of 24 shots in the loss.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Blackhawks won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 4-3 (OT) victory in February, their ninth straight win against Ottawa. Patrick Kane (2G 0A), Max Domi (0G 2A), and Jake McCabe (0G 2A) each had two points to lead Chicago. Claude Giroux, Shane Pinto, and Brady Tkachuk were on the scoresheet for Ottawa. Mrazek got the win, saving 28 of 31 shots (.903%).
FACING OFF
Ottawa is averaging 3.18 goals per game for the season, 15th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Blackhawks team that is allowing 3.60 goals a game (27th).
Meanwhile, Chicago has found the net 2.44 times a game on average, 32nd in the league, and the Senators are allowing opponents to score 3.11 goals per game (16th).
Chicago averages fewer shots (26.9) than any other team in the league, while the team’s 9.2% shooting percentage is 28th. With an average of 33.2 attempts, Ottawa ranks eighth. Look for a few power play opportunities for the Blackhawks, as the Senators are averaging 4.63 penalties per game, third-most in the NHL.
The visitors’ 11.37 penalty minutes a game ranks fourth-highest. The home team has been penalized 3.58 times a game (25th) for an average of 9.18 minutes (13th).
The Blackhawks’ 28th-ranked power play offense (17.32%) will face a tough test against the Senators, who are the league’s third-best penalty killing team (83.19%).
Ottawa, meanwhile, has scored on 25.00% of their power play opportunities (6th), which the away team will be looking to add to against Chicago’s 23rd-ranked 75.69% penalty killing rate.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 66 points apiece this season, Stuetzle (31G 35A) and Tkachuk (26G 40A) are the top skaters for the Senators. In the net, Talbot (14-14-1) is Ottawa’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 2.88 GAA and a .905% save percentage. Domi and Kane lead the Blackhawks in scoring with 49 and 45 points, respectively.
Domi has 18 goals and 31 assists, while Kane has 16 goals and 29 assists. Arvid Soderblom (2-10-2) has the best goals against average for Chicago at 3.45.
He has a save percentage of .894%. Mrazek (8-17-2) has played the most games in net for the Blackhawks this season. He has a 3.80 GAA and a .891% save percentage.
HOME AND AWAY
Ottawa is 13-14-2 away from home this season. Chicago is 12-18-3 at home this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Ottawa Senators (-250)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
