Pittsburgh Penguins vs Ottawa Senators Betting Pick & Prediction for Thursday on 12/18

bangthebook nhl game preview

The Pittsburgh Penguins visit the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre for an NHL regular season game. The game is set for Thursday, December 18, 2025, at 7:00 PM and will air on ESPN+. The Penguins have a record of 14-9-9 and are ranked 10th in the Eastern Conference.

Meanwhile, the Senators hold a 15-13-4 record and sit 14th in the same conference. Both teams will look to improve their standings in this game. The Penguins’ coach, Dan Muse, and Senators’ coach, Travis Green, will guide their teams in this Eastern Conference matchup.

Penguins vs Senators Game Day Info

  • Sport: NHL
  • Teams: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Ottawa Senators
  • Venue: Canadian Tire Centre
  • Date: Thursday, December 18, 2025
  • Betting Odds: Ottawa Senators MoneyLine -169, Pittsburgh Penguins MoneyLine +142

Pittsburgh Penguins Team Preview

The Pittsburgh Penguins have had a challenging stretch with several close games. They lost to the Edmonton Oilers 6-4, despite 30 shots on goal. In that game, Tommy Novak contributed with a goal and an assist.

In another tight game, the Penguins fell to the Utah Mammoth 5-4. Bryan Rust scored twice with support from Anthony Mantha, who had two assists. The Penguins managed only 16 shots on goal but kept the game close.

The Penguins have relied on key players like Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust. Crosby has 19 goals and 16 assists this season, showing his skill on the ice. Goalie Stuart Skinner has been busy with 525 saves in 24 games, aiming to improve the team’s standing.

Ottawa Senators Team Preview

The Ottawa Senators have had mixed results in their recent games. They won against the Winnipeg Jets 3-2, with Linus Ullmark making 23 saves. Tim Stützle led with three assists, while Jake Sanderson and Brady Tkachuk each scored a goal.

In a close game against the Minnesota Wild, the Senators lost 3-2. Dylan Cozens and Tim Stützle both scored and assisted. The team excelled in power plays, scoring twice with a man advantage.

The Senators managed a strong win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, finishing 6-3. Michael Amadio stood out with a goal and two assists. The team blocked 21 shots, showing strong defensive play.

BTB Betting Pick

The Ottawa Senators are favored to win against the Pittsburgh Penguins with a moneyline of -169. The Penguins are the underdogs with a moneyline of +142. Ottawa’s skater stats show strong rankings in hits and faceoffs won, which might give them the edge. The projected score is Ottawa 4, Pittsburgh 3.

The total for the game is set at 6.0 with the over at -124 and the under at +102. Both teams have shown they can score, with Ottawa ranking high in goals and Pittsburgh not far behind. Considering these factors, the recommendation is to go with the over, expecting a total score of 7.