by Chuck Sommers
Thursday, Nov 03, 2022
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, ON
Where to watch: RDS2, TSN5, AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Golden Knights -140, Senators +120
FanDuel: Golden Knights -146, Senators +122
BetMGM: Golden Knights -139, Senators +115
Caesars: Golden Knights -140, Senators +118
Season record
Golden Knights: 9-2-0 (18 points)
Senators: 4-5-0 (8 points)
What an electric start to the NHL season. So much parity, so many good teams through the first 10-plus games, you have every right to be excited! Of course the Vegas Golden Knights and Boston Bruins are heading the fun charge here as the top two teams in the league, because of course they are. But never count out the Avalanche, you know they're always going to be hanging around and will be eating worlds once they get everyone healthy. But this is a good time to be playing these hockey games, as well. Look no further than our own Vegas Writer off to a 14-11-0 start over the first 30 days of the NHL season. There's also ASA, Inc. posting a 10-5-1 mark through the first month. You know you can trust our champion handicappers to get you across the finish line with your NHL bets. Check out our Best Bets page at bigal.com to see what we're throwing down!
Golden Knights - Senators preview, prediction and analysis
Recent results
Golden Knights: won 3-2 (OT) at Capitals; fifth straight win
Senators: lost 4-3 at Lightning; third straight loss
I'm not one to think so early when it comes to Stanley Cup favorites, but we're all in agreement that the Vegas Golden Knights have to be up there early, right? This is absurd the kind of run they're on under Bruce Cassidy, with Jack Eichel leading the way.
Vegas will look to win its sixth straight game Thursday when it faces the Ottawa Senators in the second game of this five-game road trip that got off to a strong start Tuesday with a 3-2 overtime victory against the Washington Capitals. The Golden Knights, for the second straight game, did not lead until scoring the game-winner in overtime when Shea Theodore took a pass from Eichel in OT and won it. Shea Theodore winning games in overtime against the Capitals sounds so last April.
But it was another instance where the Golden Knights found a way to win this early in the season, led by Eichel with a team-high 12 points through 11 games. He scored for the second straight game and has continued to make plays that resemble what a superstar should be. Coupled with great goaltending from Logan Thompson and Adin Hill, there hasn't been a full-on bad game so far from the hockey team based in Las Vegas.
“We’re a veteran group, so we’re never going to be out of the fight,” Thompson said. “These guys, they know how to win and (we were) confident coming in here after the second period that we were going to find a way to get two points tonight.”
But right now, it's hard to not like what Vegas is doing and Eichel's redemption arc being a part of that. This is the first time Eichel has been involved in winning hockey. Getting a motivated Eichel on a really good team is pure danger for the rest of the league.
“Great play. Obviously, he’s a skilled player with the puck, and I think if you can kind of read through his eyes and get into a good spot, he’ll find you,” Theodore said of Eichel’s pass on his OT winner.
Vegas has a real good chance of keeping this win streak going while getting an Ottawa group that has lost three in a row and have given up 13 goals in that stretch. The Senators' 4-2-0 start has been mired with three straight losses to Minnesota, Florida and Tampa Bay -- none of which they should hang their hats on. But they're getting great production from Brady Tkachuk and Alex DeBrincat early on. If they can ride this wave to some solid goaltending, Ottawa may be in business.
Prediction
But right now, the Golden Knights are playing too well and are looking too good to let something slip at the moment. They can't keep this streak up forever, but with an early chase of the Boston Bruins for the top spot in the league, something tells me this Vegas group wants to keep it going for a while. Golden Knights win 5-2
I'm not one to think so early when it comes to Stanley Cup favorites, but we're all in agreement that the Vegas Golden Knights have to be up there early, right? This is absurd the kind of run they're on under Bruce Cassidy, with Jack Eichel leading the way.
Vegas will look to win its sixth straight game Thursday when it faces the Ottawa Senators in the second game of this five-game road trip that got off to a strong start Tuesday with a 3-2 overtime victory against the Washington Capitals. The Golden Knights, for the second straight game, did not lead until scoring the game-winner in overtime when Shea Theodore took a pass from Eichel in OT and won it. Shea Theodore winning games in overtime against the Capitals sounds so last April.
But it was another instance where the Golden Knights found a way to win this early in the season, led by Eichel with a team-high 12 points through 11 games. He scored for the second straight game and has continued to make plays that resemble what a superstar should be. Coupled with great goaltending from Logan Thompson and Adin Hill, there hasn't been a full-on bad game so far from the hockey team based in Las Vegas.
“We’re a veteran group, so we’re never going to be out of the fight,” Thompson said. “These guys, they know how to win and (we were) confident coming in here after the second period that we were going to find a way to get two points tonight.”
But right now, it's hard to not like what Vegas is doing and Eichel's redemption arc being a part of that. This is the first time Eichel has been involved in winning hockey. Getting a motivated Eichel on a really good team is pure danger for the rest of the league.
“Great play. Obviously, he’s a skilled player with the puck, and I think if you can kind of read through his eyes and get into a good spot, he’ll find you,” Theodore said of Eichel’s pass on his OT winner.
Vegas has a real good chance of keeping this win streak going while getting an Ottawa group that has lost three in a row and have given up 13 goals in that stretch. The Senators' 4-2-0 start has been mired with three straight losses to Minnesota, Florida and Tampa Bay -- none of which they should hang their hats on. But they're getting great production from Brady Tkachuk and Alex DeBrincat early on. If they can ride this wave to some solid goaltending, Ottawa may be in business.
Prediction
But right now, the Golden Knights are playing too well and are looking too good to let something slip at the moment. They can't keep this streak up forever, but with an early chase of the Boston Bruins for the top spot in the league, something tells me this Vegas group wants to keep it going for a while. Golden Knights win 5-2
Betting trends
Golden Knights are 68-38 when playing their third game in five days the last three years.
Golden Knights are 7-1 off an under this season.
Under is 8-2-1 in Golden Knights games this season.
Senators are 1-12 in November the last three years.
Senators are 18-27 off a road loss the last three years.
Senators are 0-6 the last three years following two straight games where both teams have scored three goals or more.
Projected lines
Golden Knights:
Chandler Stephenson -- Jack Eichel -- Mark Stone
Reilly Smith -- William Karlsson -- Jonathan Marchessault
Michael Amadio -- Brett Howden -- Phil Kessel
William Carrier -- Nicolas Roy -- Keegan Kolesar
Alec Martinez -- Alex Pietrangelo
Brayden McNabb -- Shea Theodore
Nicolas Hague -- Zach Whitecloud
Logan Thompson
Chandler Stephenson -- Jack Eichel -- Mark Stone
Reilly Smith -- William Karlsson -- Jonathan Marchessault
Michael Amadio -- Brett Howden -- Phil Kessel
William Carrier -- Nicolas Roy -- Keegan Kolesar
Alec Martinez -- Alex Pietrangelo
Brayden McNabb -- Shea Theodore
Nicolas Hague -- Zach Whitecloud
Logan Thompson
Senators:
Brady Tkachuk -- Tim Stutzle -- Drake Batherson
Alex DeBrincat -- Shane Pinto -- Claude Giroux
Tyler Motte -- Dylan Gambrell -- Mathieu Joseph
Parker Kelly -- Mark Kastelic -- Austin Watson
Thomas Chabot -- Erik Brannstrom
Jake Sanderson -- Travis Hamonic
Nikita Zaitsev -- Nick Holden
Anton Forsberg
Brady Tkachuk -- Tim Stutzle -- Drake Batherson
Alex DeBrincat -- Shane Pinto -- Claude Giroux
Tyler Motte -- Dylan Gambrell -- Mathieu Joseph
Parker Kelly -- Mark Kastelic -- Austin Watson
Thomas Chabot -- Erik Brannstrom
Jake Sanderson -- Travis Hamonic
Nikita Zaitsev -- Nick Holden
Anton Forsberg
Statistical leaders
Golden Knights:
Points: Jack Eichel -- 12
Goals: Jack Eichel -- 5
Assists: Alex Pietrangelo -- 9
Goalie: Logan Thompson -- 5-2-0, 1.73 GAA, .938 SV%
Senators:
Points: Brady Tkachuk -- 12
Goals: Brady Tkachuk -- 6
Assists: Drake Batherson -- 8
Goalie: Anton Forsberg -- 3-5-0, 3.18 GAA, .909 SV%
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
