Free NHL Picks Today: Edmonton Oilers vs Ottawa Senators 3/14/23

The Edmonton Oilers (36-23-8) and their clutch power play offense play host to the Ottawa Senators (33-29-4), one of the NHL’s top penalty killing teams, at Rogers Place on Tuesday. Ottawa is playing their last of five games on the road coming off a 5-1 loss against the Flames on Sunday.

The Senators conceded a power play goal while failing to take advantage of their own power play opportunities. Tim Stuetzle scored the only goal for the Senators. Kevin Mandolese only had 34 saves on 39 shots against (.871%) in the loss.

Edmonton fell 7-4 to the Maple Leafs on Saturday. Four players found the net for the Oilers. Connor McDavid scored and provided two assists to lead the team in scoring. Stuart Skinner saved only 31 of 37 shots against (.837%) in the loss.

HEAD TO HEAD

The Oilers won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 6-3 victory in February. McDavid led Edmonton with three points (1G 2A). Erik Brannstrom, Claude Giroux, and Jake Sanderson were on the scoresheet for Ottawa. Jack Campbell got the win despite allowing three goals on 29 shots (.896%).

FACING OFF

Ottawa is averaging 3.11 goals per game for the season, 17th in the NHL, and they are taking on an Oilers team that is allowing 3.33 goals a game (22nd). Meanwhile, Edmonton has found the net 3.85 times a game on average, first in the league, and the Senators are allowing opponents to score 3.21 goals per game (18th).

Expect several power play opportunities for the Oilers, as the Senators are averaging 4.71 penalties per game, second-most in the NHL. The visitors’ 11.86 penalty minutes a game ranks third-highest. The home team has been penalized 4.04 times a game (11th) for an average of 9.06 minutes (14th).

The Oilers’ No. 1-ranked power play offense (32.03%) will face a tough test against the Senators, who are the league’s third-best penalty killing team (83.40%). Ottawa, meanwhile, has scored on 23.48% of their power play opportunities (6th), which the visiting team will be seeking to improve on against Edmonton’s 25th-ranked 75.32% penalty killing rate.

TOP PERFORMERS:

Stuetzle and Giroux have been the top skaters for the Senators this season with 71 and 66 points. In the net, Cam Talbot (15-14-1) is Ottawa’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 2.85 GAA and a .905% save percentage.

McDavid leads the Oilers and the league in scoring with 127 points. His 55 goals and 72 assists are both league bests. Skinner (19-14-4) has the best goals against average for Edmonton at 2.92. He has a save percentage of .911%.