Flames vs Senators Prediction 3/12 NHL Picks for Tonight

The Ottawa Senators visit the Calgary Flames on Sunday, looking to continue their winning ways and potentially make a push for the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Flames are desperate to end their five-game home slide and keep their playoff hopes alive. This is the second matchup of the season between these two teams, with the Senators winning the first game 4-3 in overtime. Let's take a closer look at each team's offense, defense, and goaltending, as well as any injuries that may impact the game.

Ottawa Senators

Offense:

The Senators' offense has been a bright spot this season, averaging 3.1 goals per game. Tim Stutzle leads the team with 31 goals and 37 assists, while Drake Batherson has also been impressive with 24 goals and 32 assists. The Senators also have a number of young players who have contributed to their offensive success, including Brady Tkachuk and Josh Norris.

Defense:

The Senators' defense has been average this season, allowing 3.1 goals per game. They have struggled on the penalty kill, ranking 25th in the league at 77.6%. However, they have been solid at even strength, and have been getting strong play from defensemen like Thomas Chabot and Artem Zub.

Goaltending:

The Senators' goaltending has been solid this season, with Matt Murray and Anton Forsberg splitting time in net. Murray has been the better of the two, posting a 2.94 GAA and .901 save percentage. Forsberg has been solid in his limited action, with a 2.63 GAA and .915 save percentage.

Calgary Flames

Offense:

The Flames' offense has struggled this season, averaging just 2.6 goals per game. Tyler Toffoli has been a bright spot, leading the team with 26 goals and 29 assists. Mikael Backlund has also been solid with 14 goals and 25 assists, but the Flames have struggled to find consistent scoring from the rest of their lineup.

Defense:

The Flames' defense has been solid this season, allowing 2.9 goals per game. They have been strong on the penalty kill, ranking 11th in the league at 81.5%. They have been getting strong play from their top defensemen, including Mark Giordano and Chris Tanev.

Goaltending:

The Flames' goaltending has been average this season, with Jacob Markstrom and David Rittich splitting time in net. Markstrom has been the better of the two, posting a 2.79 GAA and .904 save percentage. Rittich has struggled in his limited action, with a 2.90 GAA and .898 save percentage.

Injuries:

The Senators will be without forward Josh Norris for the rest of the season due to a shoulder injury. Goaltender Anton Forsberg is also out with knee issues, while Cam Talbot is out for the Flames with a lower body injury. Oliver Kylington is out for personal reasons, and Michael Stone is out with an undisclosed injury.

Prediction:

In this matchup, we like the Ottawa Senators to pull off the upset on the road. They have been playing well lately, averaging 3.5 goals per game over their last ten contests. The Flames, on the other hand, have struggled at home, losing their last five games at the Scotiabank Saddledome. While the Flames have a solid defense, their offense has been inconsistent all season and we believe the Senators' offense will be able to take advantage of their weaknesses. In addition, the Senators' goaltending has been solid this season, and we expect them to be able to shut down the Flames' struggling offense.

Pick: Ottawa Senators (+166)