The only matchup on Thursday night’s NHL betting slate pits the Ottawa Senators on the road against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Game time for Game 4 of this best-of-seven Eastern Conference Semifinals series on NBC Sports Network is set for 7:30 p.m. (ET).
Ottawa at New York Game Overview
Ottawa took care of business at home in the first two games of the series with a pair of one goal victories, but it had no answer for the Rangers on the road in Tuesday’s 4-1 loss as a +148 underdog. The total ended as a PUSH and it has gone an even 1-1-1 in this series on a closing line of five goals in each contest. The Senators won all three road games in their 4-2 series win against Boston in the opening round.
After holding New York to just one goal in a 2-1 victory in Game 1, the Senators have now allowed nine goals in the last two games. Goalie Craig Anderson gave up four goals on 30 shots in Game 3 after getting tagged for five goals in Game 2 on 48 shots in his team’s 6-5 victory in double overtime. Center Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored the lone goal for Ottawa on Tuesday night to avoid the shutout after tallying an amazing four goals in Game 2 including the game winner in overtime.
New York also dug itself into an early hole in its opening round playoff matchup against Montreal by losing two of the first three games before reeling off three-straight victories to win that series in six games. Going back over the Rangers’ first nine playoff games, Tuesday’s three-goal victory was only the fourth time that a game was not decided by one goal either way. The total has now stayed UNDER or ended as a PUSH in seven of those nine contests.
The Rangers, playing as a complete team, came up big when they needed to the most. Right winger Mats Zuccarello has been getting it done for New York all season long with a team-high 59 points and he got things started in Game 3 with a goal five minutes and change into the opening period. Oscar Lindberg netted his first goal of the postseason late in the second period to put the game out of reach at 4-0. After getting shelled for six goals in Game 2, goalie Henrik Lundqvist returned to form by turning away 26 of the 27 shots he faced.
Ottawa at New York Game Betting Trends
- The Senators have won eight of their last 10 games played on a Thursday and they are 5-2 in their last seven games after scoring two goals or less in their previous outing. The total has stayed UNDER in four of their last five games following a loss by three or more goals.
- The Rangers are 5-1 in their last six home games, but they fall to 3-7 in their last 10 games following a win. The total has stayed UNDER or ended as a PUSH in five of their last six games following a win.
- Head-to-head in this Eastern Conference clash, the home team has won the last five meetings and the total has stayed UNDER or ended as a PUSH in eight of the last 10 games.
