Ottawa Senators vs. Edmonton Oilers Pick & Prediction DECEMBER 22nd 2024
Preview and Prediction
The Ottawa Senators are currently the most in-form team in the league as they head into their final game before the NHL's holiday break on Sunday against the defending Western Conference champions, the Edmonton Oilers.
The Senators have been on a roll, winning their sixth consecutive game on Saturday with a 5-4 overtime victory against the Vancouver Canucks. This win improved their record to 8-1-0 in their last nine games and also propelled them into the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with 38 points.
This is the first time since March 2-11, 2017 that Ottawa has managed to win six games in a row. Interestingly, this was also the last season that the Senators made it to the Stanley Cup playoffs.
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In their latest game, Jake Sanderson scored the game-winning goal just 15 seconds into overtime to keep their winning streak alive. He also had two assists, while Shane Pinto contributed with two goals and an assist. Leevi Merilainen made 21 saves to secure his first career NHL win for the Senators.
Despite squandering three leads in the game, Ottawa managed to come out on top with a resilient performance. Brock Boeser's goal for the Canucks with just 4:50 remaining in the third period forced the game into overtime.
"We showed great resilience and determination," Sanderson said. "We stuck to our game plan and got the job done."
Sanderson received a pass from Tim Stutzle and scored the game-winning goal by beating Kevin Lankinen between the pads. "It's always a great feeling to score a goal and help the team win," Sanderson said.
"It's always nice to win and get on a roll," Ottawa coach Travis Green said. "But we have to reset for every game. We weren't happy with our performance in the last game (a 3-2 overtime win against Calgary on Thursday). We challenged our team to respond today, and they did. It was a very professional performance by our players."
Now, the Senators have to quickly reset for their game against the Edmonton Oilers in less than 24 hours. The Oilers have been in great form themselves, winning 10 of their last 12 games.
On Saturday, the Oilers secured their second consecutive 3-2 overtime victory against the San Jose Sharks, with Leon Draisaitl scoring the game-winning goal just 18 seconds into the extra period.
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Draisaitl, who currently leads the NHL with 24 goals, scored his game-winner after Mattias Ekholm tied the game for the Sharks with just 18 seconds left in regulation.
"It's always exciting and fun when you score the game-winning goal," Draisaitl said. "I think we did a good job in the last two games of finding a way to win. You don't want to rely on overtime every night, but sometimes you need it."
The Oilers also needed overtime to defeat the Boston Bruins 3-2 on Thursday, with Ekholm scoring the game-winning goal on that occasion as well.
Edmonton has been in great form, earning 14 out of a possible 16 points in their last eight games, with their only loss coming against the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers. After their game against the Senators, the Oilers will travel to southern California for a back-to-back weekend against the Los Angeles Kings and the Anaheim Ducks. They are currently just one point behind the Kings in the Pacific Division standings.
"Every point is crucial, and every game is important," center Connor McDavid said. "The playoff race and the positioning race are always tight, so every point matters. Even the points in December are important. These are games that we have to be ready for and take care of business."
Ottawa Senators vs. Edmonton Oilers Recap MAR 14TH 2023
Leon Draisaitl scored twice as the Edmonton Oilers cruised to a 6-3 win over the visiting Ottawa Senators on Tuesday.
Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins each had a goal and an assist for the Oilers, who have won five of their past seven games. Stuart Skinner made 29 saves.
Tim Stutzle scored twice and Mads Sogaard made 27 saves for the Senators, who have lost four of five and have allowed at least four goals in five straight.
Derek Ryan gave the Oilers a 1-0 lead at 2:20 of the first period, taking a pass from Ryan McLeod inside the right circle and beating Sogaard top corner near side.
Brady Tkachuk tied it 1-1 on a power play at 6:48, banking a shot off the skate of Edmonton defenseman Vincent Desharnais into the net.
It was just the fifth power-play goal for Ottawa on 46 opportunities in its past 12 games.
Draisaitl put the Oilers in front 2-1 at 12:34. Warren Foegele took a pass from Draisaitl at the goal line and quickly dished it back to him, with Draisaitl sending the puck five-hole on Sogaard.
Stutzle tied it 2-2 with a short-handed tally at 18:53. Dylan Gambrell carried the puck up the ice on a two-on-one, holding on until deep in the Oilers' zone before sliding a pass over to Stutzle on the left side of the net.
Nugent-Hopkins made it 3-2 Edmonton from the right circle on a power play at 5:39 of the second period.
Draisaitl connected on a one-timer from the slot off a feed from McDavid to make it 4-2 at 16:17. The goal was Draisaitl's 100th point of the season.
Nick Bjugstad scored with less than a second left on the clock in the middle frame to extend Edmonton's advantage to 5-2, sliding a backhand by Sogaard's right skate.
Stutzle narrowed it to 5-3 at 5:28 of the third period with a one-timer from the inner hashmarks of the left circle.
McDavid scored into an empty net at 17:47 to make it 6-3.
The Senators played without defenseman Thomas Chabot and forward Mathieu Joseph after each was injured in Ottawa's 5-1 loss to the Calgary Flames on Sunday.