Senators Could be in Big Trouble Tonight

The Ottawa Senators host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Hockey Night in Canada and they’ll be without leading scorer Matt Duchene and veteran Bobby Ryan, both ruled out potentially long-term earlier today. With that, Sidney Crosby and the suddenly surging Penguins may very well have their way with the Sens tonight. Pittsburgh is a huge moneyline favorite but there’s value on the -1.5 puck line.

Penguins vs Senators Game Center

Duchene and Ryan are Huge Losses

Matt Duchene’s absence from the Ottawa lineup couldn’t come at a worse time as he was one of the hottest players in the league over the past month. Duchene injured his groin in the game against Montreal on Thursday and is week-to-week. Ottawa will be without its top scorer for the foreseeable future.

Bobby Ryan was also hurt in the same game, he suffered a concussion, and there’s no timetable for his return from the IR. The Sens were already up against a wall with the streaking Pens coming to town, and this will make things even more difficult.

Penguins Have Come to Life This Week

It’s like somebody turned on a switch or gave the Penguins a boost of nitrous oxide this week as they’ve looked like a completely different team in their games against the Colorado Avalanche and the New York Islanders.

The Pens outscored their opponents 12-5 and, more impressively, were full of jump and execution. It is the best they’ve looked this season and maybe, just maybe, Jim Rutherford’s message is getting through. The Penguins GM made a number of moves recently, including adding Marcus Pettersson from Anaheim for embattled winger Daniel Sprong.

My Pick for this Game

I think Ottawa is in for a really rough transition without two proven NHL veterans in the lineup. Mike Sullivan’s Penguins will be smelling blood in the water when they get to Canada’s capital tonight and I think betting them at +135 on the -1.5 puck line is a great play.