New Jersey vs Ottawa Prediction 19 January 2025

🔊 Will the "Senators" manage to break into the top-8 of the Eastern Conference? One of the Sunday matchups in the NHL will be the game between New Jersey and Ottawa at the "Prudential Center". Both clubs are performing quite well in the current regular season, which only adds interest to their head-to-head match. It's important to review the odds according to bookmakers: a "Devils" win is at 1.95, a "Senators" victory is at 3.15. Our editorial team has analyzed the latest performances of the teams and will try to provide the most successful prediction.

📊 H2H

In October last year, the teams already faced each other in the capital of Canada. Back then, the "Senators" failed to please the local fans as they rightfully lost to the visiting side (1:3). Overall, in the last 7 head-to-head encounters, Ottawa has only managed to succeed once.

😈 NEW JERSEY

Sheldon Keefe cannot be called an inexperienced coach. Before the Canadian specialist took over New Jersey in the past offseason, he worked for 5 years in Toronto. However, the 44-year-old specialist did not achieve significant success at the helm of the Canadian team. The best result remains reaching the second round of the playoffs in the 2022/23 season. This largely fueled skepticism around Keefe's appointment as head coach of the "Devils". Nevertheless, New Jersey is performing well in the current regular season, sitting in 3rd place in the "East".

🔴 OTTAWA

For Ottawa's head coach, the upcoming matchup is particularly significant. Let's recall that last season Travis Green was part of New Jersey's coaching staff and finished the season as acting head coach. The "Senators" continue to fight desperately to make it to the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2017. Green is the 4th specialist trying to break the curse of the Canadian club. We note Ottawa's quite productive performances in away games - 24 points after 24 games (7th result in the "East").

📌 PROBABLE LINEUPS

New Jersey: Markström - Dillon, Hamilton - Palat, Hughes, Bratt

Ottawa: Meriläinen - Zub, Sanderson - Batherson, Norris, Tkachuk

🥅 GOALIES

Jakob Markström is an extremely experienced goaltender. This season, the 34-year-old Swede has appeared in 34 matches for Ottawa. During this stretch, he has managed to keep his net intact three times. Other statistical indicators are also quite convincing (90.98% save percentage, GAA - 2.29).

Leevi Meriläinen performed excellently recently against Washington (0:1 OT). The 22-year-old goalie managed to save 96.30% of shots, conceding only one puck in overtime - 103 seconds before the final buzzer. For the Finnish goaltender, this season is his first full one in the world's strongest league.

📝 MATCH PREDICTION

It's crucial to pay attention to the latest head-to-head matches between New Jersey and Ottawa. In 7 out of the last 8 cases, spectators witnessed spectacular hockey with at least 6 pucks scored. The high power-play efficiency of the "Devils" (28.8%) can impact the outcome of the matchup at any moment. Our pick is total over 5.5 goals.