by Chuck Sommers
Friday, Feb 17, 2023
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, ON
Where to watch: RDS, TSN5, NBCSCH
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Senators -245, Blackhawks +205
FanDuel: Senators -255, Blackhawks +205
BetMGM: Senators -250, Blackhawks +195
Caesars: Senators -250, Blackhawks +205
Season record
Blackhawks: 16-32-5
Senators: 26-24-3
The All-Star break is over, the second half of the NHL season can officially begin, and we're bound for what should be a very exciting second half of the hockey season. Basketball and hockey are about to rule the roost in the sports betting world once the Super Bowl is done with, and we should all be very excited for what's to come. When the trade deadline hits and players switch teams, you know things are about to get hectic over these final 30 games or so. One way you can stay tuned with the action is following what our champion handicappers are doing in the world of the NHL. Look at ASA, Inc., reeling in a $6,750 profit off a 17-9-0 run. Al McMordie is also doing well on the ice with a 13-5-0 run and a net profit of $6,050. Scott Rickenbach has also been hanging strong with a lot of betting action, in what's been an unusual year, with a 24-18-0 run and reeling in $5,950. You know this action is going to be great now that games are back and a busy second half if on the horizon. All you need to do is head to our BEST BETS page at bigal.com to find out all of what we're trying to tell you. Make sure you're locked in at bigal.com and go to our Best Bets page to find out what our champion handicappers have to say in the world of the NHL!
Blackhawks - Senators preview, prediction and analysis
Recent results
Blackhawks: lost 5-2 at Maple Leafs
Senators: won 3-2 (SO) at Islanders
The Chicago Blackhawks will be playing the Ottawa Senators on Friday, February 17 in Ottawa.
The Chicago Blackhawks lost against the Toronto Maple Leafs last Wednesday, February 15 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto with a score of 5-2. The Chicago Blackhawks currently rank 8th in the Central Division.
Sam Lafferty and Philipp Kurashev scored, and Petr Mrazek made 37 saves for the Blackhawks (16-32-5), who have lost five of six (1-4-1), including 4-0 at Montreal on Tuesday.
"I thought they obviously came out guns a-blazing," Chicago coach Luke Richardson said. "An unfortunate bounce for [Jake] McCabe, catching an edge and he went down on the first goal, but I thought we reacted well, but then another bounce [off Connor Murphy's stick]. I thought our guys pushed back after two tough bounces, but they really came out skating in the first half of the game.
"Our guys fought to the end, they were pushing, there was no give-up, guys were doing all the right things. It's just that's a big team, and when you get behind early and you're chasing it the whole game, that's what we tried to avoid."
The Maple Leafs went up 1-0 nine seconds into the first period when Nylander took a stretch pass from Morgan Rielly, got around McCabe in the high slot and shot past Mrazek's outstretched left pad. It was Nylander's sixth goal in eight games.
Lafferty tied it 1-1 at 1:02 when he intercepted Calle Jarnkrok's pass in the slot and backhanded a shot blocker side.
Auston Matthews made it 3-1 at 11:21 when he shot from just outside the left hash marks in the slot after taking a pass from William Nylander, who got the puck by the left hash marks along the side boards and skated towards the blue line before sending pass from the top of the right face-off circle back across the ice.
Kurashev cut it to 3-2 46 seconds into the second period when he one-timed a pass from Max Domi at the top of the left circle.
"It's just a matter of calming the storm," Domi said. "I thought Lafferty did a great job of that with a beautiful goal, but then a combination of us sitting back a little too much and them executing at a pretty high level."
The Chicago Blackhawks have won three of their last 10 games.
The Ottawa Senators won against the New York Islanders last Tuesday, February 14 at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York with a score of 3-2 in a shootout. The Ottawa Senators currently rank 7th in the Atlantic Division.
Kevin Mandolese won his NHL debut when he made 46 saves, including five in overtime for the Senators. The 22-year-old was recalled from Belleville of the American Hockey League after goalie Anton Forsberg sustained an MCL injury in both knees against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday. Ottawa is also without goalie Cam Talbot, who sustained a lower-body injury Jan. 25.
"He's a confident kid," Senators coach D.J. Smith said of Mandolese. "He's been up-and-down a bunch of times. He was [in the ECHL] at some point this year but he's got enough confidence to get in there, and that's the biggest thing. He wasn't afraid of the moment."
Tim Stutzle and Brady Tkachuk each had a goal and an assist for the Senators (26-24-3), who have won six of their past seven games, including 4-3 in overtime at home against the Calgary Flames on Monday.
"We know there is room to make up [in the playoff race]," said Tkachuk, who is Ottawa's captain. "But we're not looking at the playoff picture and situation. We're just going in there, playing fast, kind of [doing] our jobs every day and just putting ourselves in the best position to move forward."
Ryan Pulock gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead at 5:47 of the second period with a snap shot from between the face-off circles. It was Pulock's first goal since Dec. 23 (22 games). Stutzle tied it 1-1 at 17:32 when he used Pulock as a screen to beat Sorokin with a wrist shot from the right circle for his fourth goal in four games.
Tkachuk gave Ottawa a 2-1 lead at 3:41 of the third period on a redirection of Stutzle's feed from the right circle for a power-play goal. It was Tkachuk's third goal in four games.
''I think we dominated the first period, and then they were a little bit faster than us,'' Stutzle said. ''As soon as we started playing fast again, I think we dominated the game.''
Brock Nelson tied it 2-2 on the power play at 7:13 with a one-timer from the right circle after a feed from Dobson.
Stutzle and Drake Batherson each scored in the shootout for the Senators. Bo Horvat shot wide for New York, and Mandolese made a pad save against Kyle Palmieri.
"No matter how many shots [against there were], I just want to be there for the team and give [them] a chance to win," Mandolese said.
The Ottawa Senators have won seven of their last 10 games.
Prediction
Why even trust the Blackhawks at this rate? Senators 5, Blackhawks 1
The Chicago Blackhawks will be playing the Ottawa Senators on Friday, February 17 in Ottawa.
The Chicago Blackhawks lost against the Toronto Maple Leafs last Wednesday, February 15 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto with a score of 5-2. The Chicago Blackhawks currently rank 8th in the Central Division.
Sam Lafferty and Philipp Kurashev scored, and Petr Mrazek made 37 saves for the Blackhawks (16-32-5), who have lost five of six (1-4-1), including 4-0 at Montreal on Tuesday.
"I thought they obviously came out guns a-blazing," Chicago coach Luke Richardson said. "An unfortunate bounce for [Jake] McCabe, catching an edge and he went down on the first goal, but I thought we reacted well, but then another bounce [off Connor Murphy's stick]. I thought our guys pushed back after two tough bounces, but they really came out skating in the first half of the game.
"Our guys fought to the end, they were pushing, there was no give-up, guys were doing all the right things. It's just that's a big team, and when you get behind early and you're chasing it the whole game, that's what we tried to avoid."
The Maple Leafs went up 1-0 nine seconds into the first period when Nylander took a stretch pass from Morgan Rielly, got around McCabe in the high slot and shot past Mrazek's outstretched left pad. It was Nylander's sixth goal in eight games.
Lafferty tied it 1-1 at 1:02 when he intercepted Calle Jarnkrok's pass in the slot and backhanded a shot blocker side.
Auston Matthews made it 3-1 at 11:21 when he shot from just outside the left hash marks in the slot after taking a pass from William Nylander, who got the puck by the left hash marks along the side boards and skated towards the blue line before sending pass from the top of the right face-off circle back across the ice.
Kurashev cut it to 3-2 46 seconds into the second period when he one-timed a pass from Max Domi at the top of the left circle.
"It's just a matter of calming the storm," Domi said. "I thought Lafferty did a great job of that with a beautiful goal, but then a combination of us sitting back a little too much and them executing at a pretty high level."
The Chicago Blackhawks have won three of their last 10 games.
The Ottawa Senators won against the New York Islanders last Tuesday, February 14 at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York with a score of 3-2 in a shootout. The Ottawa Senators currently rank 7th in the Atlantic Division.
Kevin Mandolese won his NHL debut when he made 46 saves, including five in overtime for the Senators. The 22-year-old was recalled from Belleville of the American Hockey League after goalie Anton Forsberg sustained an MCL injury in both knees against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday. Ottawa is also without goalie Cam Talbot, who sustained a lower-body injury Jan. 25.
"He's a confident kid," Senators coach D.J. Smith said of Mandolese. "He's been up-and-down a bunch of times. He was [in the ECHL] at some point this year but he's got enough confidence to get in there, and that's the biggest thing. He wasn't afraid of the moment."
Tim Stutzle and Brady Tkachuk each had a goal and an assist for the Senators (26-24-3), who have won six of their past seven games, including 4-3 in overtime at home against the Calgary Flames on Monday.
"We know there is room to make up [in the playoff race]," said Tkachuk, who is Ottawa's captain. "But we're not looking at the playoff picture and situation. We're just going in there, playing fast, kind of [doing] our jobs every day and just putting ourselves in the best position to move forward."
Ryan Pulock gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead at 5:47 of the second period with a snap shot from between the face-off circles. It was Pulock's first goal since Dec. 23 (22 games). Stutzle tied it 1-1 at 17:32 when he used Pulock as a screen to beat Sorokin with a wrist shot from the right circle for his fourth goal in four games.
Tkachuk gave Ottawa a 2-1 lead at 3:41 of the third period on a redirection of Stutzle's feed from the right circle for a power-play goal. It was Tkachuk's third goal in four games.
''I think we dominated the first period, and then they were a little bit faster than us,'' Stutzle said. ''As soon as we started playing fast again, I think we dominated the game.''
Brock Nelson tied it 2-2 on the power play at 7:13 with a one-timer from the right circle after a feed from Dobson.
Stutzle and Drake Batherson each scored in the shootout for the Senators. Bo Horvat shot wide for New York, and Mandolese made a pad save against Kyle Palmieri.
"No matter how many shots [against there were], I just want to be there for the team and give [them] a chance to win," Mandolese said.
The Ottawa Senators have won seven of their last 10 games.
Prediction
Why even trust the Blackhawks at this rate? Senators 5, Blackhawks 1
Betting trends
Blackhawks are 0-9 when playing a 3rd game in 4 days this season.
Blackhawks are 1-13 off a road loss by 3 goals or more this season.
Senators are 9-15 in non-conference games this season.
Senators are 9-3 on Friday the last 3 seasons.
Projected lines
Blackhawks:
Tyler Johnson -- Jason Dickinson -- Patrick Kane
Philipp Kurashev -- Max Domi -- Taylor Raddysh
Andreas Athanasiou -- Sam Lafferty -- Colin Blackwell
Boris Katchouk -- MacKenzie Entwistle -- Reese Johnson
Jake McCabe -- Seth Jones
Jack Johnson -- Connor Murphy
Ian Mitchell -- Caleb Jones
Petr Mrazek
Tyler Johnson -- Jason Dickinson -- Patrick Kane
Philipp Kurashev -- Max Domi -- Taylor Raddysh
Andreas Athanasiou -- Sam Lafferty -- Colin Blackwell
Boris Katchouk -- MacKenzie Entwistle -- Reese Johnson
Jake McCabe -- Seth Jones
Jack Johnson -- Connor Murphy
Ian Mitchell -- Caleb Jones
Petr Mrazek
Senators:
Brady Tkachuk -- Tim Stutzle -- Drake Batherson
Alex DeBrincat -- Ridly Greig -- Claude Giroux
Tyler Motte -- Shane Pinto -- Mathieu Joseph
Parker Kelly -- Derick Brassard -- Austin Watson
Thomas Chabot -- Nikita Zaitsev
Erik Brannstrom -- Artem Zub
Jacob Larsson -- Travis Hamonic
Kevin Mandolese
Brady Tkachuk -- Tim Stutzle -- Drake Batherson
Alex DeBrincat -- Ridly Greig -- Claude Giroux
Tyler Motte -- Shane Pinto -- Mathieu Joseph
Parker Kelly -- Derick Brassard -- Austin Watson
Thomas Chabot -- Nikita Zaitsev
Erik Brannstrom -- Artem Zub
Jacob Larsson -- Travis Hamonic
Kevin Mandolese
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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.
