Senators vs Penguins Betting Odds, Trends, & Free Pick [Game 1]

By
Jay Cooper
-

Ottawa (0-0) at Pittsburgh (0-0)
When: Saturday, May 13th 2017
Where: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
Time: 7:05 ET | TV: NBC

Open an Account at Bovada Sportsbook Now! Sign up at Bovada.lv to get up to a $250 Deposit Bonus and to bet all the Web’s best NHL Hockey odds and props!

The upstart Ottawa Senators come in as heavy underdogs when they begin their Eastern Conference finals series with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday night at PPG Paints Arena. To say that the Senators run has been intense and exciting would be an understatement as everyone but one of their eight victories have been by a single goal. That includes a Game 6 clincher at Madison Square Garden to send the New York Rangers packing for the offseason. They also took care of a favored Boston squad in six games during the first round. Two-time Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson has been the MVP for Ottawa thus far in the postseason despite playing with two hairline fractures in his left heel. The captain raised his team-high point total to 13 (two goals, 11 assists) by recording game-winning goals in the series opener and clincher against New York, and erupted for seven points (one goal, six assists) as Ottawa captured two of the three regular-season encounters with Pittsburgh. The Senators will be making their first trip to the conference finals since 2007 and third overall. Head coach Guy Boucher told reporters Friday that he is “hopeful” winger Viktor Stalberg can play in the opener after the veteran sustained an undisclosed injury in the series-clinching victory versus the Rangers.

LIVE IN-GAME NHL BETTING!

The Penguins are attempting to become the first team since the 1997-98 Detroit Red Wings to repeat as Stanley Cup Champions after surviving a seven-game series with the President’s Trophy-winning Washington Capitals. After breezing by Columbus in five games in the first round, Pittsburgh took a commanding 3-1 series lead on Washington before having to escape in Game 7. Evgeni Malkin (NHL-leading 18 points) and rookie Jake Guentzel (league-best nine goals) are the offensive leaders thus far for Pittsburgh this postseason. Despite the return to health of regular-season netminder Matt Murray, coach Mike Sullivan hinted that he will stick with Marc-Andre Fleury in net. Fleury saved his best for when it mattered most, recording a 29-save shutout in a 2-0 victory over Washington in Game 7 of the second-round series to improve his goals-against average (2.55) and save percentage (.927). The Penguins have won three of four postseason meetings with the Senators, including a five-game triumph in the second round of the 2013 playoffs.

[ad id=’52768′]

Pittsburgh is a heavy favorite in this series, and they should be. They won’t take this Ottawa team lightly and should be able to rattle Anderson by scoring early in Game 1.

Pick: Penguins -1.5 +145

W/L TRENDS

Ottawa
  • Senators are 4-0 in their last 4 Saturday games.
  • Senators are 4-1 in their last 5 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
  • Senators are 4-1 in their last 5 Conference Finals games.
  • Senators are 8-3 in their last 11 vs. a team with a winning record.
  • Senators are 8-3 in their last 11 overall.
  • Senators are 8-3 in their last 11 vs. Eastern Conference.
  • Senators are 13-5 in their last 18 games following a win.
  • Senators are 5-2 in their last 7 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
  • Senators are 11-5 in their last 16 vs. Metropolitan.
Pittsburgh
  • Penguins are 22-7 in their last 29 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
  • Penguins are 6-2 in their last 8 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
  • Penguins are 39-13 in their last 52 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game.
  • Penguins are 60-20 in their last 80 home games.
  • Penguins are 46-21 in their last 67 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
  • Penguins are 68-31 in their last 99 vs. Eastern Conference.
  • Penguins are 13-6 in their last 19 games following a win.

OU TRENDS

Ottawa
  • Over is 3-0-2 in Senators last 5 overall.
  • Over is 1-0-3 in Senators last 4 road games.
  • Over is 3-0-2 in Senators last 5 vs. Eastern Conference.
  • Over is 3-0-2 in Senators last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
  • Over is 4-1 in Senators last 5 Saturday games.
  • Over is 4-1-3 in Senators last 8 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
  • Over is 3-1-1 in Senators last 5 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
  • Over is 7-3-1 in Senators last 11 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
  • Under is 60-28-4 in Senators last 92 vs. Metropolitan.
  • Under is 35-17-4 in Senators last 56 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Pittsburgh
  • Over is 5-1 in Penguins last 6 Saturday games.
  • Under is 4-1 in Penguins last 5 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
  • Over is 4-1-1 in Penguins last 6 Conference Finals games.
  • Under is 5-2-1 in Penguins last 8 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
  • Over is 32-15-5 in Penguins last 52 vs. Atlantic.
  • Over is 31-15-1 in Penguins last 47 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
  • Over is 49-24-11 in Penguins last 84 home games.

HEAD TO HEAD

  • Home team is 20-8 in the last 28 meetings.
  • Senators are 6-14 in the last 20 meetings.
  • Senators are 3-13 in the last 16 meetings in Pittsburgh.

Trends courtesy of SportsOptions.com – an UltimateCapper.com partner

CLICK HERE TO BET THE SENATORS VS PENGUINS GAME

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR