Free NHL Picks Today: Pittsburgh Penguins vs Ottawa Senators 3/20/23

Both teams will be out to end losing streaks when the Pittsburgh Penguins (34-25-10) host the Ottawa Senators (33-31-5) at PPG Paints Arena on Monday. Ottawa is coming off a high-scoring 5-4 shootout loss against the Maple Leafs on Saturday, their fifth consecutive defeat.

The Senators committed only two penalties in the game, yet still conceded a power play goal. Brady Tkachuk was the top goalscorer for the Senators with two goals.

Mads Sogaard saved only 25 of 29 shots against (.862%) in the loss. Pittsburgh dropped their third in a row, falling 6-0 to the Rangers on Saturday. Tristan Jarry saved only 13 of 17 shots (.764%) after starting in the loss.

HEAD TO HEAD

The teams have split their two meetings this season, the most recent of which was a 4-1 victory for the Penguins in January. Jake Guentzel led Pittsburgh with three points (2G 1A). Tkachuk scored Ottawa’s only goal. Jarry got the win, saving 44 of 45 shots (.977%).

FACING OFF

Ottawa is averaging 3.13 goals per game for the season, 17th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Penguins team that is allowing 3.26 goals a game (19th).

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh has found the net 3.22 times a game on average, 15th in the league, and the Senators are allowing opponents to score 3.29 goals per game (20th).

Pittsburgh averages more shots a game (34.0) than most teams in the league, ranking fifth, though the team’s 9.5% shooting percentage is 24th. With an average of 33.3 attempts, Ottawa ranks sixth. Look for multiple power play opportunities for the Penguins, as the Senators are averaging 4.65 penalties per game, second-most in the NHL.

The visitors’ 11.64 penalty minutes a game ranks fourth-highest. The home team has been penalized 3.72 times a game (15th) for an average of 8.52 minutes (17th).

The Senators’ 23.85% power play percentage ranks seventh in the league, while the Penguins are 14th with a conversion rate of 21.43%. When it comes to defending power plays, Ottawa has the league’s eighth-ranked PK% at 82.73%, while Pittsburgh is 14th at 80.00%.

TOP PERFORMERS:

With 78 and 71 points this season, Tim Stuetzle and Tkachuk have been the top skaters for the Senators. 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.

Sidney Crosby leads the Penguins in scoring with 83 points. He has 29 goals and 54 assists (10th). Jarry (20-9-6) has the best goals against average for Pittsburgh at 3.03. He has a save percentage of .907%.