NHL betting preview (March 10): Red Wings vs. Senators odds
Join Daily Faceoff’s Andy MacNeil as he handicaps Monday’s NHL matchup between the Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators.
Red Wings vs. Senators Odds
- Detroit Red Wings Moneyline: +135
- Ottawa Senators Moneyline: -160
- Puck Line: Red Wings +1.5 (-185), Senators -1.5 (+150)
- Game Total: 6 (Over -110, Under -110)
Game odds via Sports Interaction.
Handicapping the Red Wings (30-33 SU, 37-26 ATS, 31-27-5 O/U)
Detroit’s playoff hopes are fading fast. The Red Wings have lost five straight and now sit three points behind Ottawa for the final wild-card spot in the East. Their schedule isn’t helping either—they have the second-toughest remaining slate based on regular season point totals.
To make matters worse, Detroit had a baffling trade deadline. They added 35-year-old center Craig Smith and 33-year-old goaltender Petr Mrazek, who has struggled. Neither move significantly improves their playoff chances, and GM Steve Yzerman has effectively signaled that the team isn’t good enough to justify a bigger push. He’s probably right—they aren’t.
Since Todd McLellan took over on Dec. 27, Detroit ranks 28th in expected goals percentage at five-on-five, according to Evolving Hockey. The Red Wings remain one of the league’s worst offensive teams outside of a power play that had been unsustainably high but has started to cool off. They’ve managed to break even in goal differential, but that likely won’t last.
Cam Talbot has been dreadful lately, posting an .874 save percentage and a 3.38 goals against average. Alex Lyon has respectable numbers, but neither he nor Mrazek seems likely to save this sinking ship.
Handicapping the Senators (32-30 SU, 26-36 ATS, 25-31-6 O/U)
Ottawa has won three of four since snapping a five-game losing streak and now has a chance to deal a major blow to Detroit’s playoff hopes. A win Monday would vault the Senators past Columbus into the first wild-card spot.
Tim Stützle enters Monday’s game on a 14-game point streak, tallying 20 points in that span. Defenseman Jake Sanderson isn’t far behind with 17 points over the same stretch, while Brady Tkachuk remains the team’s top goal scorer. Tkachuk, who leads Ottawa with 26 goals, has scored in five straight games, including a two-goal effort against the Rangers on Saturday.
Newly acquired forward Dylan Cozens had a solid debut, picking up an assist. The 24-year-old is skating on the second line with David Perron and Drake Batherson while also playing wing on the top power-play unit.
Monday kicks off a back-to-back for Ottawa, with a trip to Philadelphia on Tuesday. Given Detroit’s impact on the playoff race, Linus Ullmark gets the start. Ullmark has won three of his last four but has allowed at least three goals in every game since returning from injury on Feb. 4, posting a 3-4-1 record with an .891 save percentage and a 3.72 goals against average.
This is the third of four meetings between the teams this season. Ottawa won the first matchup (2-1) at home on Dec. 5 but lost in overtime (3-2) in Detroit on Jan. 7. However, the Senators have won seven of the past 10 meetings, including four of the last five.
Best bet for Red Wings vs. Senators
- Over 6 (-110) at Sports Interaction
Ottawa and Detroit have gone under the total in four consecutive matchups, but the current form of both teams suggests this game will see more goals. Seven of the Red Wing’s last 10 outings have featured seven goals or more, while eight of the Senators’ last 12 games have featured at least seven goals.