The Ottawa Senators (+150) will be out to add to their winning streak when they head to take on the New York Rangers (-180) at Madison Square Garden on Thursday. The total is 6.5 (O: -115, U: -105)Ottawa (30-26-4) is coming off a 6-1 win over the Red Wings on Tuesday, their third win in a row.
The Senators committed 12 penalties in the game, though they held Detroit without a power play goal. Austin Watson was the top goalscorer for the Senators with two goals.
Tim Stuetzle had a goal and two assists to lead the team in scoring. Mads Sogaard saved an impressive 16 of 17 shots (.941%) in the win.New York (35-17-9) is playing the second of a back-to-back after earning a 3-2 overtime win over the Flyers yesterday.
Vladimir Tarasenko, Chris Kreider, and Mika Zibanejad each scored once for the Rangers. Tarasenko added two assists to lead the team in scoring. Igor Shesterkin saved 26 of 28 shots in the win (.928%).
HEAD TO HEAD
The teams have split their two meetings this season, the most recent of which was a 3-2 (OT) victory for the Senators in December. Brady Tkachuk led Ottawa with three points (2G 1A). Vitali Kravtsov and Zibanejad were on the scoresheet for New York. Cam Talbot got the win, saving 25 of 27 shots (.925%).
FACING OFF
Ottawa is averaging 3.12 goals per game for the season, 18th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Rangers team that is allowing 2.75 goals a game (10th). Meanwhile, New York has found the net 3.30 times a game on average, 12th in the league, and the Senators are allowing opponents to score 3.13 goals per game (16th).
Power play opportunities ought to be plentiful for the Rangers, as the Senators are averaging 4.65 penalties per game, third-most in the NHL. The visitors’ 11.30 penalty minutes a game ranks fourth-highest. The home team has been penalized 3.39 times a game (3rd-fewest in the league) for an average of 7.79 minutes (4th-fewest).
The Senators’ 25.55% power play percentage is the fourth-best in the league, while the Rangers rank 11th with a conversion rate of 22.58%. Ottawa has been equally successful at penalty killing, boasting the league’s fifth-highest PK% at 83.18%. New York ranks 17th at 78.03%.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 63 points apiece this season, Stuetzle (28G 35A) and Tkachuk (26G 37A) are the top skaters for the Senators. In the net, Talbot (13-14-1) is Ottawa’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 2.87 GAA and a .905% save percentage.
Artemi Panarin and Zibanejad lead the Rangers in scoring with 68 and 65 points, respectively. Panarin has 19 goals and 49 assists (10th) in 61 games, while Zibanejad has 32 goals and 33 assists. Shesterkin (26-10-7) has the best goals against average for New York at 2.65. He has a save percentage of .910%.
HOME AND AWAY
Ottawa is 12-14-2 away from Canadian Tire Centre this season. New York is 17-10-4 at Madison Square Garden this season. Meanwhile, the Rangers are 6-5 without a day off and 5-4 playing with a rest disadvantage. The Senators are 3-0 with a rest advantage.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
NY Rangers (-155)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
