The Ottawa Senators head to Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, FL, to take on the Tampa Bay Lightning in a Regular Season matchup, with coverage on ESPN+ starting at 1:00 PM. The Senators, boasting a 38-24-10 record, including 20-13-4 on the road, will need to contend with the Lightning's high-scoring offense, which averages 3.61 goals per game. Nikita Kucherov leads the charge for Tampa Bay with 121 points, while Ottawa's Tim Stutzle paces the Senators with 75 points, including 32 goals and 43 assists. The Lightning's defensive structure will be tested, however, as they allow 26.8 shots per game, compared to Ottawa's 24.2 allowed.
The Senators will have to overcome significant injuries on the blue line, with Dennis Gilbert, Thomas Chabot, Jake Sanderson, and Lassi Thomson all out, while Tampa Bay's Victor Hedman is also sidelined. The Lightning are favored by 1.5 points, with a total of 6.5, and are listed at -175 on the moneyline. As you weigh your options for this matchup, consider the scoring pressure and defensive contrast between these two teams, and head to StreakChat to discuss the game with other fans and make your prediction.