Welcome back to another Senators edition of NHL Predictions here at Last Word on Hockey as Ottawa takes on the Philadelphia Flyers. Tonight’s game will be the first of three games between the two clubs this season. Check out our thoughts on this game and more as we do daily for the games throughout the 2024-25 season.
NHL Predictions
Philadelphia Flyers at Ottawa Senators, from Canadian Tire Centre
Time: 7:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
TV: TSN5, RDS2, ESPN+
2023-24 Regular Season Record Ottawa vs Philadelphia was (2-1) in favour of Ottawa.
Ottawa Hopefully Inspired to Get On a Roll
Of course, this game can be a sentimental one in some sense. Claude Giroux played exactly 1000 regular season games and recorded exactly 900 points with the Flyers franchise over a span of 15 years. This is his third full season as a member of the Ottawa Senators and will still, understandably have some emotion playing his former team, even if it isn’t in Pennsylvania. The roster is still filled with former teammates of Giroux from his last season there in 2021-22. In any case, this will be a game that Giroux can get motivated for and don’t be surprised if we notice it on the scoresheet at the end of the game.
The other part of the Senators game right now is something those that follow the Senators closely are all to familiar with. If Shane Pinto, Joshua Norris, and Tim Stutzle are in the lineup, the Senators are a very versatile team. Furthermore, we will go as far, as based on the sample from the last couple of seasons, since Pinto has emerged as a two-way force, that the Sens as a team are actually not dependent on who’s between the pipes on any given night. They maintain a very strong winning percentage of .656% when the trio of centres are in the lineup.
Right now, Linus Ullmark is listed as expected, putting his 4-4-0 record on the line. As a note, however, please check for the very latest lineup news before locking in your fantasy starter. Ullmark is coming off a 27-save shutout of the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night. Looks like head coach Travis Green is set to ride the hot hand in this one.
The Philadelphia Flyers Navigating the Long Haul of an NHL Campaign
The Philadelphia Flyers come into this contest with a win on their mind. They are a well-constructed and well-coached team. Conversely, given the dynamics of the pieces in play, those are two opposing forces that rarely move in synchronicity.
One player that would like to get it going for the Flyers is Tyson Foerster. This is a guy who last year scored 20 goals. This season, he has just two through 15 contests. In addition, Sean Couturier would also like to get it going. It seems the days of him as nearly a point-per-game player are in the rearview, but he is an effective, two-way force nonetheless. Thus far, he has eight points through 16 games, in 17:40 of average ice time.
One of the struggles with the Flyers, is trying to get the players on the same page as coach John Tortorella. Couturier was a healthy scratch down the stretch drive last year. This year he has held the potential star Russian, Matvei Michkov out of the lineup. This is despite Michkov being second on the team in points with 12. Moreover, it can be a bit of an interchanging lineup from night to night in Philly. This makes it difficult for players like Michkov, or perhaps Morgan Frost, to find any rhythm and offensive confidence.
The last comment on Philly is in the net. Samuel Ersson is the expected starter for Philly. He is 5-2-2 with a 2.70 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage on the campaign. Furthermore, his numbers have been decent, but unfortunately for the Flyers, their other goalies have not been. The other two, Ivan Fedotov and Aleksei Kolosov, are a combined 1-6-0 on the season. If Philly can begin to find some consistency, perhaps they can turn a corner. Until then, look for them to continue an uphill battle.
NHL Predictions: Flyers and Senators
The Sens are 5-2-0 on the year on home ice, and have a plus-ten goal differential. After a big win against the Leafs, look for them to be fired up. Given the Sens heightened sense of consistency, when compared to Philadelphia, they should prevail in this one.
Prediction: Ottawa wins in regulation, 5-2.
According to Fanduel, if we want to look at adding some friendly wagers on the outcomes, check these out. We like Ottawa to cover the spread, it is -1.5 and paying +138 to kick-off your parlay. Michkov is paying +390 as an anytime scorer, we like those odds. And finally, for the Sens, as we mentioned Giroux will be up for this one, at +260 as an anytime scorer, book it.
Main Photo: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
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