Pittsburgh Penguins vs Ottawa Senators Prediction 12/18/2025 Today’s NHL Picks

In this article, we will formulate a Penguins vs Senators Prediction for this NHL game on Thursday, December 18th. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this NHL matchup.

Ottawa Senators Preview

The Senators have 34 points this season with a 15-13-4 record, and are 12-20 ATS and 19-13 in over/under. They have a 6-6-2 home record and a 9-7-2 road record and are sitting 6th in the Atlantic Division. They are coming off a 3-2 road overtime win over the Jets, and their previous three games were a 2-3 road loss against the Wild, a 6-3 road win against the Blue Jackets, and a 3-4 home loss against the Devils.

Offensively, the Senators are averaging 3.06 goals per game and are scoring 25.5% of their power play opportunities. Defensively, they are allowing 3.25 goals per game and are killing 70.5% of their opponent’s power plays.

Tim Stutzle leads the Senators with 33 points and 15 goals, also leading the team in assists with 18. Linus Ullmark is the starting goalie for the Senators, and he has a 12-8-4 record, with 3.00 GAA and .879 SV%. Leevi Merilainen is the backup goalie and he has a 3-5 record, with 3.32 GAA and .877 SV%.

Pittsburgh Penguins Preview

The Penguins have 37 points this season with a 14-9-9 record, and are 21-11 ATS and 16-12 in over/under. They have a 6-6-5 home record and a 8-3-4 road record and are sitting 5th in the Metropolitan Division. They are coming off a 4-6 home loss to the Oilers, and their previous three games were a 4-5 home overtime loss against the Mammoth, a 5-6 home overtime loss against the Sharks, and a 2-4 home loss against the Canadiens.

Offensively, the Penguins are averaging 3.22 goals per game and are scoring 31.1% of their power play opportunities. Defensively, they are allowing 3.03 goals per game and are killing 81.6% of their opponent’s power plays.

Sidney Crosby leads the Penguins with 35 points and 19 goals, while Erik Karlsson leads the team in assists with 22. Stuart Skinner is the starting goalie for the Penguins, and he has a 11-9-4 record, with 2.93 GAA and .887 SV%. Arturs Silovs is the backup goalie and he has a 4-4-6 record, with 3.20 GAA and .893 SV%.

Pittsburgh Penguins @ Ottawa Senators Betting Trends: December 18, 2025

Why the Ottawa Senators will win

• The Penguins have lost each of their last six games.
• The Senators have won seven of their last eight home games against the Penguins.
• The Penguins have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last four games at Canadian Tire Centre following a loss.
• The Senators have covered the puck line in each of their last three games.
• The Senators have won the second period in each of their last six night games following an overtime win.

Why the Pittsburgh Penguins will win

• The Senators have lost each of their last four games as home favorites.
• The Penguins have won each of their last six Thursday games as underdogs.
• The Penguins have covered the puck line in each of their last nine road games against Eastern Conference opponents.
• The Senators have failed to cover the puck line in 14 of their last 16 home games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
• The Senators have lost the second period in seven of their last eight games when leading after the first period.

Total Goals Facts

• Each of the Penguins’ last seven road games against Atlantic Division opponents have gone OVER the total goals line.
• Each of the Senators’ last six games against the Penguins following a road win have gone UNDER the total goals line.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in each of the Senators’ last six games against Eastern Conference opponents.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3′ market has hit in each of the Penguins’ last eight games following a loss.

Ottawa Senators Player Prop Facts

• Claude Giroux has recorded at least one assist in each of his last 12 home appearances against the Penguins.
• Drake Batherson has scored at least one goal in each of the Senators’ last four games against Eastern Conference opponents.
• Claude Giroux has recorded at least one point in each of his last 12 home appearances against the Penguins.
• Nick Cousins has recorded a career faceoff win percentage of 56.5% against the Penguins (min. 5 faceoffs) – most against any opponent (including playoffs).

Pittsburgh Penguins Player Prop Facts

• Bryan Rust has scored a goal in each of the Penguins’ last four games.
• Rickard Rakell has recorded an assist in each of his last five appearances with the Penguins as underdogs.
• Rickard Rakell has recorded at least one point in each of his last six appearances with the Penguins as underdogs.
• Bryan Rust has scored a goal in each of his last four appearances – equal-longest active streak in the league.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Ottawa Senators rank 31st in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (70.45%).
• The Ottawa Senators rank 6th in the league in power play percentage this season (25.49%).
• The Pittsburgh Penguins rank 3rd in the league in power play percentage this season (31.11%).
• The Pittsburgh Penguins rank 8th in the league for goals per game this season (3.22).

Penguins vs Senators Prediction

The Senators are 6-1 in their last 7 meetings against the Penguins having won their last four meetings in Ottawa. Under is 6-1-1 in their last 8 meetings.

In this Penguins vs Senators Prediction, the Senators are coming as -169 home favorites. Both teams have almost identical records this season and the Penguins have more points and have been better on the road, while the Senators have been weaker at home. Both teams are coming into this matchup in bad form, as the Senators are 2-4 in their last 6 games and the Penguins are on a free fall with six consecutive losses. I cannot trust the Penguins on the road when they have been struggling lately and the Senators have been dominating them in recent years, so take the Senators on the moneyline in this one.

Nikos Lagouretos's Pick: Ottawa Senators ML