The Florida Panthers, 4th in the Atlantic Division, average 3.5 goals per game, 5th in the league. Their 25% power play, a key offensive strategy that often leads to goals, ranks 7th in the NHL. Their defense allows 3.2 goals per game, which is disappointing. The Ottawa Senators are last in the Atlantic Division. Despite their problems, they average 2.8 goals per game and have a 22.2% power play. They’ve played poorly defensively, allowing 3.7 goals per game, 2nd in the league.
These data suggest a high-scoring contest. Goals are likely with the Panthers’ strong offensive and the Senators’ weak defense. Sportsbooks predict a 60% chance of the over on this game’s 6.5 over/under. The Panthers scored over 5.5 goals in 6 of their 10 games, while the Senators scored in 7. Based on these trends and data, I expect over 5.5 goals in this match. The Panthers’ attack should dominate the Senators’ defense, and Ottawa may not stay up but should still help push the total over.