The Ottawa Senators are set to clash with the Montreal Canadiens tonight at the Bell Centre in Montreal, with the puck scheduled to drop at 7:00 p.m. EST. Fans can catch the live action on ESPN+ as both teams aim to secure a crucial victory in the NHL.
Current odds favor the Senators by -1.5 on the puck line with the over/under set at 6.5 goals. The Senators are a slight favorite to win outright at -115, while the Canadiens are positioned at -105 to cause an upset.
As the Senators embark on the final leg of a grueling seven-game road trip, they have shown resilience despite the challenges faced. After winning their first two matches, they stumbled with a narrow loss to the Los Angeles Kings, managed to secure a shootout victory over Vegas, but faltered in St. Louis and suffered a heavy defeat in Dallas. Notably, the team’s 5-on-5 play has been impressive, ranking fourth in the league with a 57.32 expected goals percentage (xGF%). They have also maintained a solid defensive presence, allowing only 2.32 expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60). However, their special teams have struggled, converting just 16% of power plays and allowing 74% of opponent power plays to succeed.
Captain Brady Tkachuk’s return has been a boost for the Senators, who may rely on goaltender Linus Ullmark to guard the net, despite his challenging season characterized by an .874 save percentage and a league-worst goals saved above expected of -9.4.
On the other side, the Canadiens have faced their own obstacles after a brief road trip where they managed a 2-1 record but recently lost heavily to the Colorado Avalanche, 7-2. November has not been kind to Montreal, with a record of 5-6-3 during the month. Despite some offensive bright spots, such as point streaks for captain Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, the overall play has been subpar. Montreal’s 5-on-5 performance ranks last in the league with a 39 xGF%, and their penalty kill sits at a troubling 76.5% success rate. Goaltending has also been a concern, with Sam Montembeault taking the net despite inconsistency, highlighted by being pulled in two of his last five starts.
With both teams struggling in various aspects, it sets the stage for an intriguing matchup. Given the defensive vulnerabilities and underwhelming goalie performances on both sides, there seems to be potential for a high-scoring affair. The prediction leans towards taking the over on the total of 6.5 goals, anticipating that the offensive capabilities of skilled players like Suzuki and Caufield could shine through despite the overall struggles of the teams.
As fans look forward to tonight’s game, a spirited performance from both sides could lead to an exciting matchup, leaving room for any outcome in this rivalry showdown.