Pittsburgh Penguins vs Ottawa Senators Picks and Predictions March 30th 2025

Pittsburgh Penguins vs Ottawa Senators March 30th 2025

The Senators and Penguins are set to face off at 5:00 ET on ESPN+. The Penguins will host the game at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. The Senators are favored by -1.5 in this Eastern conference contest against the Penguins. The game’s over/under currently sits at 6 goals.

Ottawa vs. Pittsburgh Key Information

• Teams: Senators at Penguins
• Where: PPG Paints Arena Pittsburgh
• Date: Sunday, March 30th
• Betting Odds OTT -134 | PIT +113 O/U 6

The Senators Can Win If…

With a 3-0 win over the Kraken, the Senators improved to 39-28-5. Ottawa covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total was set at 6.5 goals, but the combined score of 3 fell well short of that mark.

Three different players scored for Ottawa, and their defense held Seattle scoreless. Adam Gaudette got things started with a goal at 14:32 in the first period.

Ottawa’s offense scored three times in their 3-0 win over Seattle. Adam Gaudette netted his 7th goal of the season, while Brady Tkachuk followed with his 7th as well. Tim Stützle added his 6th goal on an empty net.

The Senators took 23 shots on goal and recorded 11 giveaways. They did not score on the power play, and none of their goals came shorthanded.

Defensively, the Senators were rock-solid, shutting out the Kraken in a 3-0 win. Anton Forsberg stopped all 22 shots he faced, finishing with a perfect 100% save percentage. The defense added 2 takeaways, 25 hits, and 14 blocks.

• Spanning across their last three games, Ottawa have gone 2-1. This includes going 0-3 vs. the puck line and posting an over-under mark of 1-2.
• The Senators have gone 7-3 over their last ten regular season games. In these contests, the team went just 4-6 against the spread, while going 4-4-2 on the over-under.

The Penguins Can Win If…

Pittsburgh improved to 29-34-11 with a 3-1 road win over the Canadiens. The Penguins covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total of 4 goals fell short of the 6.5-goal line.

Sidney Crosby scored twice for the Penguins, who held the Canadiens scoreless until the third period. Blake Lizotte added an empty-net goal to seal the win.

Sidney Crosby led the way for Pittsburgh in their 3-1 win over Montreal, netting two goals on three shots. Blake Lizotte added his second goal of the season, finding the net on his only shot of the game. The Penguins fired 24 shots on goal and scored their second goal on a power play.

Pittsburgh opened the scoring at 4:03 in the first period, with Crosby adding another at 1:20 in the second. Lizotte’s goal came on an empty net with 45 seconds left in the game. The Penguins recorded 14 giveaways.

Defensively, the Penguins will look to carry momentum from their previous game, where they allowed just one goal to the Canadiens. Alex Nedeljkovic made 25 saves with a 96.2% save percentage, and the defense added 5 takeaways and 19 hits. The only goal they allowed came at the 5:32 mark of the 3rd period.

• Over their last three regular season games, the Penguins have gone 0-3 straight up. The team’s record vs the puck line was just 1-2, in addition to an over-under mark of 3-0.
• Pittsburgh has put together a record of 5-5 in their last ten games (regular season). Their record vs the puck line sits at 6-4 in these matchups, while posting a 6-3-1 over-under mark.

The Lean

For a moneyline pick, I’m taking the Penguins to pick up on a win over the Senators at home. With the moneyline sitting at +113, I’ll be locking in a bet on the Penguins straight-up.

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

If you’re looking at the over/under line set at 6 goals, our prediction is that this game will exceed that mark, and we strongly advise placing a bet on the over.

Unlock NHL Betting Success

Get Access Now

Get Free Trial

Senators on the Verge of Ending Playoff Drought

Ottawa (39-28-5, 83 points) enters the game holding the top Eastern Conference wild-card spot with a comfortable eight-point cushion. With only 10 games remaining, the path to the postseason looks clearer than ever.

They’re coming off a gritty 3-2 win Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets — their second straight win and third in their last four games. Linus Ullmark was stellar between the pipes, stopping 29 of 31 shots. Ridly Greig recorded a goal and an assist, while Drake Batherson and Jake Sanderson also found the back of the net.

“It was intense,” Greig said. “I think throughout the next 10 games here there’s going to be a lot of intense moments like that. We’re getting used to it, and it’s a lot of fun to be out there.”

Coach Travis Green likened the pace and pressure to playoff hockey: “I thought our details were sharp. I thought our energy was good. There was a lot of loose puck battles that you have to win this time of year.”

Despite the back-to-back schedule, Ottawa is riding confidence into Pittsburgh, especially knowing they’ve already beaten the Penguins twice this season by a combined score of 8-2.

Penguins Clinging to Playoff Hopes

The Pittsburgh Penguins (29-34-11, 69 points) are on the outside looking in. They trail the final wild-card spot by eight points, with just eight games left to make up ground — a tall task even with a perfect finish.

Their most recent outing, a 7-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday, exemplified the inconsistency that’s plagued them all season. Still, captain Sidney Crosby continues to deliver, scoring to extend his point streak to nine games and breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record for most seasons averaging at least a point per game (20 seasons).

Coach Mike Sullivan called Crosby’s feat “remarkable” and praised his unmatched consistency: “With every milestone that he crosses, it just puts him in more elite company than he’s already in.”

For the Penguins, this matchup isn’t just another game. It’s a shot at redemption against the team that ousted them in the 2017 Eastern Conference Finals. More importantly, it’s their last real chance to cling to playoff life.

What’s at Stake

Sunday’s game is the final regular-season meeting between the two clubs. Afterward, Ottawa plays eight of their last nine games at home, where they’ve gone 21-10-2 — an advantage that could secure their postseason ticket.

For Pittsburgh, the margin of error is gone. Anything short of a win further dims their already faint playoff hopes. Fans can follow live betting odds and expert picks for this game to stay ahead.