Pittsburgh Penguins vs Ottawa Senators Picks and Predictions January 11th 2025

Senators look to stop bleeding in visit to Penguins

Sidney Crosby is set to make headlines once again as the Pittsburgh Penguins host the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. Crosby, now ranked as the ninth-leading scorer in NHL history, leads a Penguins team eager to build momentum following a recent slump. Meanwhile, the Senators arrive in Pittsburgh desperate to reverse their own losing streak and re-establish their footing in the season.

Sidney Crosby’s Historic Milestone

Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby continues to cement his legacy as one of the NHL’s greatest players. In Thursday’s 5-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers, Crosby notched a goal and two assists, pushing his career total to 1,643 points (604 goals, 1,039 assists). This achievement moved him past Hall of Famer Joe Sakic into ninth place on the all-time scoring list.

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Next up on the list is Penguins legend and minority owner Mario Lemieux, who tallied 1,723 career points. Penguins coach Mike Sullivan lauded Crosby’s accomplishments, calling him “the consummate pro” and praising his character and competitive spirit.

Crosby, now in his 20th NHL season, leads the Penguins with 47 points (12 goals, 35 assists) in 43 games. At 37 years old, he remains the centerpiece of Pittsburgh’s offense and a symbol of consistency in the league.

Penguins Back on Track

After enduring a four-game losing streak, the Penguins roared back with a decisive win over Edmonton. A fast start saw Pittsburgh jump to a 3-0 lead in the first period, with goals from Rickard Rakell, Bryan Rust, and Kevin Hayes.

Rust, who also tallied two assists, highlighted the team’s aggressive approach:

“It feels good when we do that, that’s for sure. Our goal was to be on our toes and all over them because they’re a skilled, fast team.”

Drew O’Connor also added a goal, and goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic delivered a stellar performance with 40 saves.

The victory provided much-needed relief for the Penguins, who are fighting to maintain a playoff position in a competitive division. With Crosby leading the charge and contributions from across the lineup, Pittsburgh aims to sustain this momentum against Ottawa.

Ottawa Senators Struggling to Find Answers

In stark contrast, the Ottawa Senators arrive in Pittsburgh grappling with a four-game losing streak. Their most recent outing, a 4-0 home loss to the Buffalo Sabres, underscored the team’s ongoing struggles.

The Senators have been outscored 15-4 during their skid and hold a 1-5-1 record over their last seven games. Defenseman Thomas Chabot, who finished the game with a minus-4 rating, didn’t mince words:

“There’s no way around it. From top to bottom, the whole team just wasn’t good enough. Simple as that.”

This game marked Ottawa’s return home after a nine-game road trip during which their arena hosted the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship. Fans, eager to welcome their team back, booed the Senators off the ice after another disappointing performance.

Head coach Travis Green acknowledged the fans’ frustration while defending his team’s effort:

“Fans want us to win. They’re passionate, and they pay good money to come to the game. You never like to hear boos, but we made some plays you can’t make, and teams are going to make you pay.”

Contrasting Team Narratives

The Senators’ struggles are a sharp contrast to the Penguins’ recent resurgence. While Pittsburgh leans on veteran leadership and Crosby’s historic brilliance, Ottawa faces mounting pressure to find consistency in a season slipping away.

Key to the Penguins’ success will be maintaining their aggressive forechecking and early-game energy, as displayed against Edmonton. Meanwhile, the Senators must address defensive breakdowns and rekindle their offensive spark if they hope to compete with a determined Pittsburgh squad.

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The Bigger Picture

For the Penguins, this game represents an opportunity to solidify their playoff ambitions and build on Crosby’s milestone moment. For the Senators, it’s a chance to end their skid and regain trust with their passionate fan base.

As the teams face off, all eyes will be on Crosby, who continues to deliver not only for his team but also for hockey history. At the same time, Ottawa’s young core will look to rise above adversity and fight to salvage their season.

The puck drops Saturday, promising an intriguing clash of storylines as two teams on divergent paths meet on the ice.

Conclusion

This showdown is a tale of resilience versus redemption, with Pittsburgh aiming to maintain its momentum and Ottawa desperate for a turnaround. As Crosby continues his climb among the NHL greats, the Senators must find a way to regroup and rise to the challenge.

For hockey fans, it’s a game that promises to blend history with high-stakes drama—exactly the kind of spectacle that defines the NHL.