Ottawa Senators vs Pittsburgh Penguins Picks and Predictions December 14th 2024

Ottawa Senators vs Pittsburgh Penguins December 14th 2024

The Penguins and Senators are set to face off at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. The Senators will host the game at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON. The over/under for this Eastern conference contest is set at 6.5 goals, with the Senators being favored by -1.5 goals at home against the Penguins.

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Pittsburgh vs. Ottawa Key Information

• Teams: Penguins at Senators
• Where: Canadian Tire Centre Ottawa
• Date: Saturday, December 14th
• Betting Odds OTT -138 | PIT +117 O/U 6.5

The Penguins Can Win If…

With a 3-1 win over the Canadiens, the Penguins moved closer to .500, now sitting at 13-14-4. Pittsburgh covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total of 4 goals fell short of the pre-game line of 6.5.

Sidney Crosby scored twice, and Blake Lizotte added an empty-net goal to secure the victory. The Penguins kept the Canadiens scoreless until the 3rd period, when Christian Dvorak found the net at 5:32.

Sidney Crosby found the net twice in the Penguins’ 3-1 win over Montreal, bringing his season total to 5 goals. He opened the scoring at 4:03 in the first period and added another on a power play at 1:20 in the second. Blake Lizotte secured his second goal of the season with an empty-netter at 19:15 in the third period.

After 24 shots on goal, Pittsburgh finished with 14 offensive giveaways. Lars Eller picked up his third assist on Lizotte’s goal, while Kris Letang earned his third assist of the season on Crosby’s second goal. Erik Karlsson now has 7 assists this year.

Defensively, the Penguins will look to build off their previous performance, where they allowed just 1 goal to Montreal. Alex Nedeljkovic had 25 saves with a 96.2% save percentage, while the defense added 5 takeaways and 19 hits. The only goal they gave up came 5:32 into the 3rd period.

• Spanning across their last three games, Pittsburgh have gone 2-1. The team has also been excellent vs the spread, going 2-1. Their over-under record in these games was 3-0.
• Pittsburgh has put together a record of 6-4 in their last ten games (regular season). This includes going 6-4 vs. the puck line along with an over-under mark of 7-3.

The Senators Can Win If…

With a 3-0 win over the Kraken, the Senators moved to 14-13-2 on the season. Ottawa was favored on the puck line and covered with the victory. The total was set at 6.5 goals, but the combined score of 3 fell well short of that mark.

All three of Ottawa’s goals came from different players. Adam Gaudette opened the scoring in the first period, followed by goals from Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stützle. The Senators’ defense held Seattle scoreless, with Anton Forsberg stopping all 22 shots he faced.

Ottawa’s offense found the net three times in their 3-0 win over the Kraken. Adam Gaudette opened the scoring for the Senators, netting his 7th goal of the season. Brady Tkachuk followed with his 7th goal as well, while Tim Stützle added an empty-netter, his 6th of the year.

The Senators took 23 shots on goal and recorded 11 giveaways. They scored once in each period, with Gaudette’s goal coming 5:28 into the first. Tkachuk’s goal came 11:11 into the second, and Stützle’s empty-netter was at 17:46 in the third.

Defensively, the Senators will look to carry over their performance from their previous game, where they allowed 0 goals and just 22 shots on goal from the Kraken. Goalie Anton Forsberg had a perfect 100% save percentage, finishing with 22 saves. The Senators’ defense also contributed 2 takeaways and 25 hits.

• Ottawa will look to keep things rolling as they have put together a mark of 2-1 over their past three games. In these games, they have a 2-1 record vs the puck line and an over-under mark of 0-1-2.
• Ottawa has put together a record of 6-4 in their last ten games (regular season). In these contests, the team went just 3-7 against the spread, while going 5-3-2 on the over-under.

The Lean

When making a moneyline pick, my choice is the Senators to come out with a win against the Penguins while playing at home. Considering the moneyline odds at -138, I’m placing my bet on the Senators to win outright.

For a puck line pick, we are going with the Senators to win and cover. Look for the Senators to win this one by multiple goals over the Penguins.

With an over/under line sitting at 6.5 goals, we like this game to remain below that mark and recommend getting a bet down on the under.

Daily NHL Picks & Predictions from The Best Expert Hockey Handicappers

Sidney Crosby and Penguins Aim to Break Ottawa’s Streak in Crucial Matchup

The Pittsburgh Penguins head into Saturday night’s clash against the Ottawa Senators riding the momentum of an explosive win and significant individual milestones. Both teams have shown flashes of brilliance this season, setting the stage for an exciting Eastern Conference showdown.

Crosby Continues to Make History

Sidney Crosby remains the heart and soul of the Penguins, adding another feather to his cap in Thursday’s dominant 9-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. The 37-year-old superstar notched three assists, surpassing Gordie Howe to claim fifth place in all-time assists by a player with one team (1,026 assists). Crosby is now just seven assists shy of passing franchise legend Mario Lemieux.

Crosby’s brilliance is underscored by his dominance against the Senators, against whom he has averaged 1.16 points per game throughout his career. In 49 matchups, he has recorded 57 points (19 goals, 38 assists)—tied with Jaromir Jagr for the most by any Penguins player against Ottawa. Crosby has also been a consistent force in recent meetings, tallying points in eight of the past 10 games.

Penguins’ Depth Shines Amid Scoring Surge

Pittsburgh’s offensive depth has been the story of their recent success. Over their last eight games, the Penguins have scored 36 goals, compiling a solid 6-2-0 record. Notably, this outburst has come even as Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have combined for just one goal in that stretch.

A key contributor has been Bryan Rust, who delivered a career night against Montreal with a hat trick and a four-point performance. Reflecting on his effort, Rust said, “Some nights it feels good, and sometimes the puck just finds you. … We were on our toes and scored a lot of goals.” Rust has now amassed 12 goals and eight assists in 24 games this season.

On the blue line, Kris Letang has been in fine form, recording eight points (four goals, four assists) in the past six games, adding offensive firepower from the backend.

Senators Look to Extend Streak Against Penguins

The Ottawa Senators have emerged as a thorn in Pittsburgh’s side, winning the last four meetings and five of six dating back to the 2022-23 season. The last three matchups between these teams have gone to overtime, with Ottawa prevailing each time.

The Senators’ offense is led by Drake Batherson, who is coming off a standout performance in a 5-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks. Batherson recorded a natural hat trick—the first by a Senator since captain Brady Tkachuk achieved the feat in 2021. Batherson’s strong season continues with 12 goals and 20 assists in 29 games.

Head coach Travis Green praised Batherson’s effort and the enthusiasm it generated among fans, saying, “Being a fan of the game, I love it. … I think it’s awesome.”

Another pivotal player for Ottawa is Tim Stutzle, who thrives on home ice. The young center has racked up seven goals and 18 assists in just 16 games in Ottawa this season, making him a significant threat against Pittsburgh’s defense.

Recent Form and Key Factors

The Penguins and Senators are both coming off commanding wins, adding to the anticipation of Saturday’s game. Ottawa enters the contest with additional confidence after a 3-0 shutout victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday, highlighted by Shane Pinto’s two-goal effort and a stellar performance by Linus Ullmark, who made 32 saves.

For Pittsburgh, sustaining their offensive momentum while improving late-game execution will be crucial. The Senators have shown a knack for taking games into overtime, and Pittsburgh must find a way to reverse the trend of recent losses to Ottawa.

What to Watch For

1. Sidney Crosby’s Playmaking:
   • Can Crosby build on his historic milestone and continue his dominance against Ottawa? His ability to set up teammates could be pivotal in a tightly contested game.
2. Bryan Rust and Kris Letang’s Contributions:
   • With Crosby and Malkin quieter in the goal-scoring department, Rust and Letang’s offensive support has been vital.
3. Drake Batherson and Tim Stutzle’s Firepower:
   • Ottawa’s young stars have been delivering consistently, and their ability to exploit Pittsburgh’s defensive lapses could be a game-changer.
4. Overtime Possibility:
   • With the last three meetings going to overtime, fans should brace for another nail-biter.

Final Thoughts

The Penguins will look to avenge their recent struggles against the Senators while riding a wave of confidence from their recent offensive dominance. Ottawa, on the other hand, will aim to capitalize on their home-ice advantage and build on their winning streak against Pittsburgh. With stars like Crosby and Batherson in the spotlight, this game promises high stakes, thrilling moments, and potentially, more bonus hockey.