The Ottawa Senators’ difficulties got even worse on Sunday, as goaltender Anton Forsberg tore the medial collateral ligaments in both knees while playing against the Edmonton Oilers. Late in the third period of their game, Ottawa defenseman Travis Hamonic pushed Edmonton winger Zach Hyman on top of Forsberg during a scrum around the net, and a stretcher was needed to get Forsberg off the ice. Forsberg had posted an 11-11-2 record with a .902 save percentage in 28 appearances during 2022-23. Defenseman Jake Sanderson also went down with an upper-body injury during the 6-3 loss and will miss at least two weeks. Take a look at our NHL betting picks on the Senators’ Monday night date with the Calgary Flames and the Florida Panthers’ tangle with the Minnesota Wild.
NHL News: Top Bets for the Week
Calgary Flames (-1.5) at Ottawa Senators (O/U 6.5)
When: Monday, February 13
Where: Canadian Tire Center
Time: 7:30 PM ET
TV: SN, RDS
Calgary (25-18-10) has put together a steady offense, averaging 3.17 goals per game – including a seven-goal explosion in their last win. The top contributors on the two scoring lines have been Nazem Kadri, Elias Lindholm and Tyler Toffoli (56 goals, 78 assists combined), and Dillon Dube, Mikael Backlund and Jonathan Huberdeau have put up 33 goals and 66 assists on the checking lines. The defense has been serviceable, permitting 2.98 goals per game, but Jacob Markstrom could improve in net. He has a 2.90 GAA and an .892 save percentage, neither of which is close to elite, and his -12.4 goals saved above average is also unimpressive.
Ottawa (24-24-3) has had a productive offense, scoring 3.00 goals per game. Claude Giroux, Tim Stuetzle, and Brady Tkachuk have combined for 63 goals and 87 assists while pacing the top scoring lines, and blueliners Jake Sanderson and Thomas Chabot have jumped in to add 11 goals and 39 assists. However, the defense has been somewhat porous, permitting 3.24 goals per game. Mads Sogaard is expected to start in net on Monday night, making his debut as a starting NHL goaltender. Flames to win and cover, take the over.
Florida Panthers (+1.5) at Minnesota Wild (O/U 6.5)
When: Monday, February 13
Where: Xcel Energy Center
Time: 8:00 PM ET
TV: TVAS, BSN, BSWI, BSFLX
Florida (26-23-6) has lit the lamp 3.47 times per game, behind 70 goals and 98 assists combined from Carter Verhaeghe, Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk. Gustav Forsling and Brandon Montour have been the most offensively minded defensemen for the Panthers, combining for 17 goals and 57 assists. The defense has been a bit porous, allowing 3.44 goals per game. Forsling and Joshua Mahura have combined for 5.3 defensive point shares, but Sergei Bobrovsky has had to face way too many uncontested shots in net. As a result, he has a 3.13 GAA despite posting a .903 save percentage, and he has a -2.6 goals saved above average figure that has a lot to do with that shoddy defense in front of him.
Minnesota (28-20-4) has struggled a bit to find consistent offense, averaging just 2.94 goals per game and just scoring five times in the last three contests. Joel Eriksson Ek, Mats Zuccarrello and Kirill Kaprizov have led the way, combining for 68 goals and 89 assists, but with just five players posting 10 or more goals, opposing defenses have been able to figure out how to smother the Wild’s productivity. On defense, things have been better as the team permits just 2.88 goals per game. Jonas Brodin and Jared Spurgeon have combined to block 213 shots, and Filip Gustavsson has an impressive .923 save percentage and a 2.25 GAA. His goals saved above average figure (+10.9) is one reason why the Wild have been able to start climbing the Central Division standings in recent weeks. Wild to win, Panthers to cover, take the under.
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