Detroit Red Wings vs Ottawa Senators Betting Picks

Detroit goes for the season sweep against the Senators after winning the first three meetings. The Red Wings are fighting for their first playoff spot in a decade, and they likely will get Dylan Larkin back after he missed the past seven games due to an injury. That will be a much-needed boost both on the ice and mentally at a time when the Red Wings can sure use it. John Gibson will start, and he is 26-16-3 with a 2.54 goals-against average with four shutouts this season. He looks to bounce back from a 4-2 loss to Boston on Saturday when the Bruins scored three unanswered goals after being down 2-1 in the third period. Detroit has gone UNDER 10 of 15 games, and six of the past nine meetings have stayed UNDER. Ottawa is on a 6-2 UNDER run, and four of its past five road games have gone UNDER. Take the Red Wings to win, and bet the UNDER. 

There is a certain randomness coming out of the three-week Olympic break. So it is dangerous to back big favorites, especially when the underdog has the superior record. That is the case in this matchup between the Red Wings and Senators. The Red Wings are 33-19-6 and second in the Atlantic Division. The Senators are 28-22-7 and sixth in the Atlantic Division. Detroit is the better defensive team, too, ranking 12th in fewest goals allowed and rating 15th on the penalty kill. Ottawa, by contrast, ranks 24th in goals given up and is 30th on the penalty kill. The Senators average 3.3 goals per game to the Red Wings' 3.0. But Ottawa is likely going to be dealing with John Gibson in net for Detroit. Gibson has been outstanding this season with a 22-12-2 record, 2.54 goals-against average, a .904 save percentage, and four shutouts. Take the Red Wings. 

Ottawa is back scoring goals. That usually means victories for the Senators. The Senators are 6-3 in their last nine games. They have scored four or more goals in six of their previous eight games. Detroit just lost a home-and-home series against the Penguins, giving up four goals in each of its two losses. The Red Wings are a below-average scoring team, but they are worse defensively, ranking 21st. Ottawa can take advantage of Detroit's defensive woes. The Senators are a top-10 scoring team and have the fifth-most effective power play. Ottawa is 10-7-3 at home this season. This is the first meeting between the two teams this season. The Senators have defeated Detroit in six of the past seven games. Take the Senators.

Detroit had two days to rest and regroup after a 5-2 loss at Washington. The Red Wings have won five of their last seven road games, including cashing as underdogs of +142 and +220. Ottawa is working on one day of rest. The Senators are on a 3-6 run, including losing at home to Montreal, 5-2, as a -163 favorite. The offense is 28th in shooting percentage, while the defense is 21st in penalty killing. Play Detroit.