Ottawa Senators vs Washington Capitals January 16th 2025

The Capitals 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 Capitals are favored by -1.5 in this Eastern conference contest against the Senators. The game’s over/under currently sits at 5.5 goals.

Washington vs. Ottawa Key Information

• Teams: Capitals at Senators
• Where: Canadian Tire Centre Ottawa
• Date: Thursday, January 16th
• Betting Odds WAS -114 | OTT -105 O/U 5.5

The Capitals Can Win If…

After a 4-2 loss to the Hurricanes, the Capitals are now 29-10-5. Washington’s defense struggled, allowing 44 shots on goal, while their offense failed to score after the first period.

Washington entered the game as underdogs on the puck line, and the total of 6 goals matched the pre-game line. The Capitals trailed 1-0 before Alex Ovechkin scored with 44 seconds left in the first period. They added another goal just 33 seconds later, but the Hurricanes responded with three unanswered goals to secure the win.

Alex Ovechkin netted his 7th goal of the season on a power play, while Brandon Duhaime added his 2nd in the Capitals’ 4-2 loss to the Hurricanes. Nic Dowd picked up his 2nd assist, and Dylan Strome recorded his 13th. The Capitals took 21 shots on goal and were held scoreless after the first period.

Washington struggled with giveaways, committing 15 in the game. After Ovechkin’s early goal, Duhaime followed up with another at 19:49 in the first period.

Washington took a 2-1 lead late in the first period, but their defense couldn’t hold on, allowing three unanswered goals to Carolina. The Hurricanes scored twice in the second period and added an empty-netter with 9 seconds left in the third. Charlie Lindgren made 41 saves with a 93.2% save percentage, but the Capitals’ defense struggled, recording just 2 takeaways and 20 hits.

• Washington will look to keep things rolling as they have put together a mark of 2-1 over their past three games. Their strong play has also resulted in an puck line mark of 2-1 (last 3). They had an over/under mark of 0-3 in those same games.
• Over their last ten regular season games, the Capitals have gone 6-4 straight up. Against the spread, Washington went 5-5 in these games and finished with an over-under mark of 5-5.

The Senators Can Win If…

Ottawa improved to 22-18-3 with a 3-0 win over the Kraken. The Senators covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total of 6.5 goals wasn’t threatened, with the teams combining for just 3.

All three of Ottawa’s goals came from different players. Adam Gaudette scored first, finding the net at 14:32 in the first period.

In their 3-0 victory over the Kraken, the Senators’ offense saw contributions from three different players. Adam Gaudette netted his 7th goal of the season, as did Brady Tkachuk. Tim Stützle added his 6th goal, which came on an empty net.

Ottawa took 23 shots on goal and recorded 11 giveaways. The Senators scored once in each period, with Gaudette’s goal coming at 14:32 in the first period.

Anton Forsberg was perfect in net for the Senators, stopping all 22 shots from the Kraken and finishing with a 100% save percentage. The defense also contributed with 2 takeaways and 25 hits.

• Over their last three games, the Senators have gone 3-0 straight up. In terms of betting, the team went 3-0 puck line in these matchups. Their over/under record in these matchups is 0-3.
• The Senators have gone 4-6 over their last ten regular season games. In these matchups, they ended with an puck line record of 4-6 and an over-under mark of 0-8-2.

The Lean

When it comes to a moneyline wager, I’m going with the Senators to defeat the Capitals while playing at home. Given the current moneyline odds at -105, I’m placing a wager on the Senators to win outright.

If you’re looking to get a bet down on this matchup, we foresee the Senators winning the underdog. However, if you’re not as confident in the Senators straight-up, we’d still recommend placing a bet on them to cover the puck line.

With an over/under line sitting at 5.5 goals, we like this game to surpass that mark and recommend getting a bet down on the over.

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Capitals Look to Keep Rolling While Senators Aim for Four Straight Wins

The Washington Capitals and Ottawa Senators are set for a Thursday night showdown, and both teams are coming in hot. The Caps are riding an eight-game point streak, and the Sens are on a three-game winning streak. With both teams playing confident hockey, this matchup is set to deliver.

Caps Are on a Tear

Washington is finding ways to win even when they’re not at their best. Their latest victory, a 3-0 shutout against the Ducks, showed just how good this team can be when everything clicks.

• Logan Thompson Is Locked In: Thompson has been a beast in net this season, and his 19-save shutout against Anaheim proved it. With a 19-2-3 record, he’s been the backbone of the Caps’ success.
• Rookie Ethen Frank Is Making Waves: The 26-year-old forward has been lights out since his call-up, scoring in back-to-back games and picking up points in all three of his appearances. His speed and energy have made him a fan favorite already.
• Ovechkin’s Milestone Watch: Alex Ovechkin is still chasing Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record, sitting just 22 goals away. While he’s only scored once in his last five games, you can’t take your eyes off him.

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Sens Are Heating Up

The Senators are finding their rhythm at just the right time. They blanked the Islanders 2-0 on Tuesday, marking their second shutout in three games and continuing their recent streak of strong performances.

• Leevi Merilainen Is a Wall: Merilainen has been on fire, recording two shutouts in his last three starts. He’s been a rock in net, giving Ottawa the confidence to play their game.
• Balanced Attack: Adam Gaudette broke out of a 15-game goal drought in their win over the Islanders, while Shane Pinto, Drake Batherson, and Josh Norris are all riding three-game point streaks. Everyone is stepping up for the Sens.
• Shutout Kings: Ottawa leads the NHL with seven shutouts this season, thanks to a mix of great goaltending and solid defense.

Key Matchups

1. Goaltending Showdown: Logan Thompson and Leevi Merilainen are both coming off shutout wins, so expect a battle in the crease.
2. Offensive Depth: The Caps will rely on rookie standout Ethen Frank to keep the momentum going, while the Sens need their balanced attack to generate scoring chances.
3. First of Three: This is the first of three meetings between these teams this season, so both will want to set the tone early.

What to Expect

The Caps want to keep their point streak alive, while the Sens are looking for their fourth straight win. With both teams rolling, this game has the makings of a close, hard-fought battle.