NHL Prediction: Will the Penguins and Senators hit the over? 5/15/17
After being upset in Game 1, will the Pittsburgh Penguins rack up the goals against the Ottawa Senators when the two meet in Game 2 tonight at 8PM ET? Here’s our NHL Prediction for tonight’s contest.
GAME 2 ODDS
According to oddsmakers, the Penguins are the clear favorite at home, as they are getting odds of -210 to win. The Senators are listed with a money line of +175 to prevail, while the over/under total for the contest is set at 5 goals.
RECORDS
The Senators shocked the Penguins with a 2-1 win in overtime in Game 1. The Senators have actually won three straight meetings with Pittsburgh now.
Ottawa comes into tonight’s game 53-31-11 overall and 27-19-2 on the road. Pittsburgh is 58-24-13 overall and 35-7-6 at home. Pittsburgh is 53-37 with the over this season while Ottawa is 51-37 with the under.
GAME 1 RECAP
Ottawa jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first period when Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored his eighth goal of the postseason 14 minutes into the game. The Penguins evened up the game late in the third period when Evgeni Malkin netted his sixth playoff goal. In the OT, it took just five minutes before Bobby Ryan found the net for the winner. It was his fifth goal of this postseason.
Ottawa had a 35-28 edge in shots in Game 1 and also had an edge in hits and faceoffs won. The Penguins had 17 giveaways in the loss and didn’t look sharp following a 7-game battle with the Capitals.
NHL PREDICTION
Game 1 went with the under as Ottawa was able to dictate the pace. The Senators aren’t a team that is going to light up the scoreboard, but they now how to play well defensively.
Pittsburgh was limited in its scoring chances in Game 1 and I expect more of the same tonight. While the Penguins may find the net more often, I also expect their defense to hold Ottawa in check. Don’t look for these two to get to six goals.
NHL Prediction – Senators/Penguins Under 5
