Ottawa Senators vs New York Rangers Picks and Predictions March 8th 2025

Ottawa Senators vs New York Rangers March 8th 2025

Looking to win big? The Rangers and Senators face off at 12:30 ET on ESPN+. The Senators are hosting the game at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON. The over/under for this Eastern conference contest is set at 5.5 goals, with the Senators being favored by -1.5 goals at home against the Rangers.

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New York vs. Ottawa Key Information

• Teams: Rangers at Senators
• Where: Canadian Tire Centre Ottawa
• Date: Saturday, March 8th
• Betting Odds OTT -132 | NYR +111 O/U 5.5

The Rangers Can Win If…

The Rangers improved to 31-26-5 with a 5-2 road win over the Islanders. Entering the game as -1.5 goal favorites, New York covered the puck line. The total was set at 6 goals, and the combined 7 goals surpassed that mark.

Four different Rangers scored in the game, with Artemi Panarin leading the way with two goals. The Rangers held a 3-2 lead going into the third period before adding two more goals to secure the win.

In their recent game against the Islanders, the Rangers fired 40 shots on goal and scored 5 times. Artemi Panarin netted his 9th goal on an empty net and added his 8th with a power play goal in the second period. Adam Edstrom also contributed with his 1st goal of the season.

Chris Kreider opened the scoring with his 8th goal, coming shorthanded. Vincent Trocheck followed with his 4th goal. Mika Zibanejad picked up 3 assists, bringing his total to 8 for the season.

On the defensive side, the Rangers gave up the first goal of the game at 4:38 in the 2nd period, and another with just 8 seconds left in the 2nd. However, they shut out the Islanders in the 3rd, securing a 5-2 win. Igor Shesterkin had a strong performance, making 35 saves with a 94.6% save percentage. The Rangers also recorded 10 takeaways and 19 hits.

• Through their last three games, the Rangers have a record of 2-1. This also includes going 3-0 puck line and an over-under mark of 0-3.
• New York 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 3-6-1.

The Senators Can Win If…

With a 3-0 win over the Kraken, the Senators moved to 31-25-5 on the season. Ottawa covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total of 6.5 goals was never in danger, as the game’s 3 total goals fell well short.

Three different Senators found the net in this one, with Adam Gaudette opening the scoring at 14:32 in the first period. Ottawa’s defense held strong, allowing only 22 shots on goal in the shutout victory.

In their 3-0 win over Seattle, the Senators’ offense saw three different players find the net. Adam Gaudette opened the scoring with his 7th goal of the season, while Brady Tkachuk added his 7th as well. Tim Stützle capped things off with an empty-netter, his 6th goal this year.

Ottawa fired 23 shots on goal and picked up 5 assists. They scored once in each period, with Gaudette’s goal coming at 14:32 in the 1st, Tkachuk’s at 8:49 in the 2nd, and Stützle’s empty-netter at 2:14 in the 3rd. The Senators also had 11 giveaways in the game.

Defensively, the Senators shut out the Kraken, allowing just 22 shots on goal. Anton Forsberg made 22 saves, finishing with a perfect 100% save percentage. Ottawa’s defense also contributed 2 takeaways, 25 hits, and 14 blocks.

• Through their last three games, the Senators have a record of 2-1. In terms of betting, the team went 2-1 puck line in these matchups. Their over/under record in these matchups is 3-0.
• Ottawa has put together a record of 4-6 in their last ten games (regular season). Across these games, their puck line record was just 5-5, while posting an over-under record of 9-1.

The Lean

For a moneyline bet, I’m backing the Senators to secure a victory over the Rangers at home. With the moneyline currently set at -132, I’m locking in my bet on the Senators straight-up.

When it comes to a puck line pick, our choice is the Senators to secure the win and cover. Expect the Senators to dominate this one with a multi-goal win over the Rangers.

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.

The Best Expert Hockey Handicappers

Ottawa Makes a Blockbuster Deal, While New York Strengthens Depth

As the NHL trade deadline passes, the Ottawa Senators and New York Rangers take different paths toward their playoff push. Ottawa made a bold move by acquiring Dylan Cozens and Dennis Gilbert, while New York opted for strategic depth additions, having already landed J.T. Miller earlier. With both teams tied at 67 points, their Saturday afternoon clash in Ottawa carries a postseason feel.

Senators Go All-In with Major Trade

Ottawa, aiming for its first playoff appearance since 2017, made one of the biggest moves of the deadline. The team traded Josh Norris to Buffalo in exchange for Cozens and Gilbert.

• Dylan Cozens, a talented two-way center, is signed for seven years and offers youth and versatility. He previously scored 31 goals in a season and has 11 goals, 31 points this year.
• Dennis Gilbert, a physical defenseman, adds depth to Ottawa’s blue line.

Emotional Impact on the Team

Losing Norris, who scored 20 goals this season, wasn’t easy for the locker room. Captain Brady Tkachuk acknowledged the emotional side of the trade but emphasized that Cozens and Gilbert will be welcomed with open arms.

“It’s the unfortunate reality of this being a business,” Tkachuk said. “With Cozens and Gilbert, we’re getting back important pieces that are really going to help us.”

Current Form: Can Ottawa Rebound?

• The Senators are 2-5-1 in their last eight games after a strong 10-2-1 stretch.
• Tim Stutzle has been a bright spot, extending his point streak to 13 games with his 20th goal in a 4-3 overtime win against Chicago.
• The team must regain consistency to stay in the playoff race.

Rangers Focus on Depth After Landing J.T. Miller

Unlike Ottawa’s blockbuster trade, New York bolstered its depth after acquiring J.T. Miller from Vancouver on Jan. 31.

At the deadline, they added:

• Calvin de Haan (defense)
• Carson Soucy (defense)
• Juuso Parssinen (center)

These moves cost them Ryan Lindgren, Jimmy Vesey, and Reilly Smith, but the team believes its defensive depth and two-way play are now stronger.

Rangers’ Recent Performance: A Playoff Team in the Making?

• New York is 15-7-4 since a rough 15-loss stretch in November-December.
• Artemi Panarin has been heating up, scoring in three straight games with five goals in his last 11.
• Power play struggles remain a concern (3-for-25 in the last 10 games).
• The team blew a third-period lead in a 3-2 overtime loss to Washington on Wednesday.

Key Injury Concern: Chris Kreider

Kreider, sidelined for six games, is traveling with the team, but his status for Saturday remains uncertain. His return could provide a much-needed boost.

Saturday’s Matchup: Playoff Intensity Expected

With both teams battling for a playoff spot, Saturday’s game in Ottawa is expected to have a postseason atmosphere.

• Will Ottawa’s new acquisitions make an immediate impact?
• Can the Rangers overcome power play struggles and offensive inconsistencies?

As New York defenseman Will Borgen put it:
“It’s going to be a playoff-like game. They’re going to be pushing, and so are we.”

This showdown could be a turning point for both teams as the playoff race intensifies.