Senators vs Devils Prediction, Odds and Picks Mar 25
New Jersey on the Brink
The New Jersey Devils look to get back to their winning ways, reach 100 points and clinch their first playoff spot since 2017-18 when they play host to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night.
The Devils have manage one victory in their last six games (1-3-2) after coming up short 5-4 at Buffalo on Friday night, but remain two points behind first-place Carolina (100) in the Metropolitan Division with 10 games left. The good news for New Jersey is it has won five straight second games of back-to-backs.
Meanwhile, the Senators are five points behind Pittsburgh for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with 10 contests remaining — five on the road where they are 15-19-2.
Ottawa is 2-1-1 in its last four games after pulling away from Tampa Bay for a 7-2 victory at home Thursday as Alex DeBrincat registered two goals and an assist.
The Devils have not recorded 100 points in a season since 2011-12, when they lost in the Stanley Cup Final.
Senators Need Streak
The 0-4 slide that came before the improved last four games may have sunk Ottawa’s hopes, but this young group won’t be easy to put away.
Forward Brady Tkachuk has led the way of late for Ottawa with six goals and a pair of assists in his last six contests while Tim Stutzle, who became the 16th German skater to play in 200 NHL games on Thursday, tops the team with 79 points.
Ottawa’s key acquisition at the trade deadline defenseman Jakob Chychrun has five points in 12 games with the Senators, but is doubtful for Saturday with an undisclosed injury.
The Senators have been a good bet in the sportsbook this season, going 42-30 ATS. The over is 5-0 in the last five Saturday games for Ottawa according to NHL lines, 6-1 in the last seven against a team with a winning record and 11-2 in the past 13 contests on one days rest.
Hughes 1 from 40
Talented center Jack Hughes almost brought New Jersey back with his 38th and 39th goal of the season in the third period Friday.
But the Devils, who are fifth in the league in goals against per game (2.69), gave up five for the first time in more than a month. The under is still 6-3-0 in the last nine New Jersey games despite the offensive show Friday.
Hughes tops the team with 84 points and fellow center Nico Hischier boasts seven of his 68 — to go along with a +4 rating – in his past five games for the Devils, who are the league’s best road team (26-6-4) while going 19-13-4 at the Prudential Center.
New Jersey, which has struggled of late on the power play (2-for-17, eight games), is fifth at +650 in the NHL conference odds to win the East. Ottawa is +10000.
Senators vs Devils Game Injuries
Senators vs Devils Head-to-Head
New Jersey has won both matchups this season, outscoring the Senators 9-4 combined as Hischier contributed two goals and an assist.
Hischier scored the winner on the power play in a 4-3 overtime victory at New Jersey on Nov. 10 and backup goalie Akira Schmid made 25 saves for a 5-1 win at Ottawa nine days later.
Schmid gave up three goals on seven shots Friday and was pulled in favor of Vitek Vanecek (29-9-4), who is expected to get the start Saturday.
The Senators, who will likely counter with rookie Mads Sogaard (6-5-2) between the pipes, won all three matchups in 2021-22 – the meeting in New Jersey ending in a shootout.
Senators vs Devils Game Information
- Game: Senators (35-32-5) vs Devils (45-19-8)
- Day/Time: Saturday, March 25, 7 p.m. ET
- Location: Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
- Senators vs Devils Live Stream: NHL.TV
Senators vs Devils Betting Lines
Senators vs Devils Picks & Prediction
Both teams have a lot to play for and will likely be aggressive offensively.
Still, Ottawa has given up just five goals in the last three games and split a pair of 2-1 contests in its past two road games with Boston (loss) and Pittsburgh (win). The Devils can also be expected to tighten things up after surrendering five goals in the first two periods at Buffalo
But if New Jersey gets its rhythm early defensively and takes a lead, it could ride the emotion to a playoff-clinching night celebration.
If you are online gambling, take the Devils to book their spot in the playoffs and at least seven goals to be put on the scoreboard.
The Senators are listed at +165 in our Las Vegas NHL odds. This means that if you wager $100 on Ottawa, you have a chance to win $165. The Devils are -190, offering a chance to win $53 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives the Senators a 37.74% chance to win, with New Jersey at 65.52%.
