Ottawa Senators vs San Jose Sharks Picks and Predictions March 1st 2025

Ottawa Senators vs San Jose Sharks March 1st 2025

Planning on watching today’s Sharks and Senators game? Catch the action at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, as the Senators hosts this showdown at 7:00 ET on NBCS. This non-conference matchup has an over/under of 5.5 goals, and the Senators are favored by -1.5 against the Sharks.

San Jose vs. Ottawa Key Information

• Teams: Sharks at Senators
• Where: Canadian Tire Centre Ottawa
• Date: Saturday, March 1st
• Betting Odds OTT -301 | SJ +247 O/U 5.5

The Sharks Can Win If…

San Jose’s 3-2 loss to the Canucks dropped their record to 15-37-9 this season. The Sharks were underdogs on the puck line, and the total was set at 6.5 goals, with the combined score of 5 falling short of that mark.

The Sharks led 1-0 at one point, but Vancouver tied it up at 5:19 in the second period. San Jose evened the score again in the third period, but the Canucks netted the game-winner with just 26 seconds remaining.

San Jose’s offense was limited to two goals in their 3-2 loss to Vancouver. Nico Sturm netted his second goal of the season, while Mikael Granlund added his sixth, scoring at the 18:43 mark in the third period.

The Sharks took 23 shots on goal but were held scoreless in the first period. They recorded 16 giveaways and did not convert on any power play opportunities.

Defensively, the Sharks will be looking to bounce back after giving up a late goal with just 26 seconds left in the 3rd period, leading to a 3-2 loss to the Canucks. Mackenzie Blackwood made 25 saves with an 89.3% save percentage, while the defense added 6 takeaways and 21 hits.

• Through their last three regular season contests, San Jose has a record of 0-3. Against the spread, they have a strong mark of 3-0 along with an over-under record of 1-2.
• Over their last ten regular season games, the Sharks have gone 1-9 straight up. In these matchups, they ended with an puck line record of 7-3 and an over-under mark of 6-4.

The Senators Can Win If…

Ottawa’s 3-0 win over the Kraken brought their record to 29-25-4. The Senators, favored by -1.5 goals, covered the puck line with the victory. The total for the game 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 at 5:28 in the first period, and Brady Tkachuk added another in the second. Tim Stützle sealed the win with an empty-net goal in the third.

Ottawa’s offense produced 3 goals on 23 shots in their 3-0 win over Seattle. Tim Stützle netted his 6th goal of the season on an empty net, while Brady Tkachuk followed with his 7th. Adam Gaudette also scored his 7th goal, opening the scoring in the first period.

Stützle added his 10th assist on Tkachuk’s goal. Michael Amadio picked up his 2nd assist on the empty-netter, and Zack MacEwen earned his 1st assist of the season on Gaudette’s goal. The Senators recorded 11 giveaways in the game.

Defensively, the Senators were rock solid, shutting out the Kraken and allowing just 22 shots on goal. Anton Forsberg made 22 saves, posting a perfect 100% save percentage. Ottawa’s defense also recorded 2 takeaways and 25 hits.

• The Senators have gone 0-3 over their last three regular season games. Their record against the puck line in this stretch is 0-3 to go along with an over-under mark of 2-1.
• The Senators have gone 5-5 over their last ten regular season games. The team’s record vs the puck line was just 5-5, in addition to an over-under mark of 7-3.

The Lean

If you’re interested in a pure moneyline wager, then the Senators is the preferred option. However, with a payout of -301, it might be worth considering this bet as a component of a larger parlay.

If you’re looking for a puck line bet, I’d suggest going with the Sharks to cover. Even in the event of a Senators victory, this game is expected to be closely fought, and the Sharks should cover the puck line.

When considering the over/under line, which is currently at 5.5 goals, we believe that this game will go over that threshold, and we recommend wagering on the over.

The Good News for Sharks and Senators: Somebody Has to Win

Two struggling teams will meet on Saturday night when the Ottawa Senators host the San Jose Sharks, ensuring that at least one team will finally break out of its slump.

The Senators enter the game on a five-game losing streak, their latest setback coming in a 4-1 home loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Sharks have been even worse, losing seven straight games (0-4-3), including a 4-3 overtime defeat against Montreal on Thursday.

With both teams desperate for a win, this matchup presents a much-needed opportunity to regain momentum as the season winds down.

Senators Battling Injuries and Inconsistency

Ottawa’s recent struggles have been compounded by injuries to key players. Captain Brady Tkachuk has missed the last two games with a lower-body injury, while Josh Norris (mid-body) and Shane Pinto (upper-body) have also been sidelined. Additionally, defenseman Tyler Kleven left Wednesday’s game with a lower-body injury and did not practice on Friday.

Despite the losses, head coach Travis Green saw some positives in his team’s latest performance.

“You’re always disappointed when you lose, but I thought it was a step in the right direction for our team,” Green said. “I felt like we found our legs a little bit, found our work ethic, forecheck was better, breakout was better, spent a lot of quality time in the offensive zone.”

Defenseman Thomas Chabot scored Ottawa’s only goal against Winnipeg, while goaltender Linus Ullmark made 35 saves in a losing effort. Tim Stutzle added an assist, extending his point streak to 10 games (three goals, 11 assists).

Chabot acknowledged that missing Tkachuk, Norris, and Pinto has hurt the team but emphasized the need to push forward.

“I’m not going to lie, those are very big pieces of our team,” Chabot said. “Very talented centers that give us a lot of depth, so we’re obviously missing them. But as you guys all know, we’re definitely not the first team to go through this this season and we won’t be the last one, probably.”

Sharks Struggling to Close Out Games

San Jose has been unable to convert leads into victories, a trend that continued against Montreal. The Sharks led 3-2 in the third period before conceding a late goal and eventually losing in overtime on a Cole Caufield game-winner.

“We’ve got to learn how to win,” said Will Smith, who had a goal and an assist in the loss. “It’s been I don’t know how many times this year, so it adds up and we’ve just got to be better.”

Head coach Ryan Warsofsky echoed those frustrations, noting that the Sharks have consistently failed to take control when they have the opportunity.

“We just can’t break a game open. That’s for sure,” Warsofsky said.

Rookie Macklin Celebrini, the first overall pick in last year’s draft, continues to impress in his debut season. The 18-year-old forward has 42 points (18 goals, 24 assists) in 48 games, ranking second in rookie scoring behind Montreal’s Lane Hutson (44 points in 59 games).

“I feel a little more comfortable, but I still have things to learn,” Celebrini said. “The decision-making, reading the game, I have to work on little details like that that people may not see. It’s hard to prepare to play against the best in the world every night.”

The Sharks may also be without defenseman Henry Thrun, who left Thursday’s game early with an undisclosed injury. His status remains questionable for Saturday.

Dive into a Detailed Analysis of the NHL Conferences with Updated Odds and Expert Predictions

What’s at Stake?

With both teams far removed from the playoff race, Saturday’s game is less about standings and more about pride. Ottawa will look to break out of its losing streak and prove it can compete despite key injuries. San Jose, sitting at the bottom of the NHL standings with just 38 points, is searching for any sign of progress in a difficult rebuilding season.

For at least one of these teams, Saturday night will bring something they haven’t had in a while—a win.