NHL Odds, Preview, Prediction: Panthers vs. Senators (March 27)

Panthers vs. Senators Odds

With less than three weeks remaining in the regular season, the Florida Panthers and Ottawa Senators will be trying to keep their playoff hopes alive when they go head-to-head at the Canadian Tire Centre on Monday night.

With nine games remaining for each side, Ottawa has the taller task at hand. The Senators are seven points out of the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, while Florida is just three points behind Pittsburgh, but has lost three straight games.

Here's the latest on both teams, and your best bet for Monday's matchup.

The must-have app for NHL bettors

The best NHL betting scoreboard

Free picks from proven pros

Live win probabilities for your bets

DOWNLOAD NOW

Florida Panthers

The Panthers went 6-0-1 in their first seven games after the trade deadline and were breathing down the necks of the Penguins and New York Islanders, who are in the wild-card positions. However, Florida has since dropped three straight to Philadelphia, Toronto and New York.

Sergei Bobrovsky has been a workhorse since returning from injury in early February. He's played well for the most part, but the 34-year-old may be wearing down as he's given up four or more goals in four of his past six starts. That could help explain why oddsmakers have set the over/under for Monday's game at an uncharacteristically high 7.5 goals.

Florida's penalty kill (ranked 26th) has been a weak spot all season, but it has been strong lately. The Panthers have gone 11-for-12 while shorthanded over their past five games. Meanwhile, their power play has been clicking consistently.

The Panthers' 5-on-5 puck possession has been strong all year and that remains so. In fact, they've controlled 55.48% of expected goals over their past 10 games.

With Spencer Knight still in the NHL's player assistance program, Alex Lyon is backing up — and that means Bobrovsky will most likely get the nod Monday.

Ottawa Senators

In Ottawa, the big news is the loss of defenseman Jakob Chychrun, who missed the Senators' 5-3 loss in New Jersey on Saturday and is expected to be out for a couple of weeks with an undisclosed injury.

Chychrun has been an important addition to Ottawa's blue line since his arrival just prior to the trade deadline, but other injuries, especially in net, have made it difficult for the Senators to mount a sustained playoff push.

Currently riding a tandem of Mads Sogaard and Dylan Ferguson, Ottawa is 2-2-1 in its past five games. Sogaard's past two starts have been strong as he allowed just two goals against the high-powered Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins. Ferguson took the loss against the Devils on Saturday, so expect to see Sogaard back between the pipes Monday.

The Sens' 5-on-5 game leaves a bit to be desired, with an expected goals rate of just 42.74% over the past 10 games. Ottawa's power play is strong, but the Senators can also seemingly be counted on to give up a goal while shorthanded lately.

Panthers vs. Senators Pick

Monday's game is the second of three battles between the Tkachuk brothers this season. In the first game, Matthew's Panthers came out on top 5-3 on October 29.

Matthew has led Florida offensively all season and is at 97 points in 70 games, which is on pace to beat his career high of 104 points, set last season.

On the Senators, Brady is second in scoring with 75 points and has nine points over his past seven games.

With the stakes as high as they've ever been in this battle between brothers, expect a spirited matchup Monday night.

With Sogaard playing well and Bobrovsky wilting, back Brady Tkachuk and the Senators for a plus-money win.

Pick: Senators Moneyline | Play to +100

Back Ottawa Instantly at FanDuel with QuickSlip