Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NHL match.
The Detroit Red Wings return home after a four-game road trip. They are still in the playoff race and have the opportunity to claw back some of the advantage from a direct competitor – the Ottawa Senators, who currently hold a wild-card slot in the Eastern Conference.
Detroit Red Wings
It’s been a frustrating March for the Red Wings — just three wins to show for their efforts, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. Under Todd McLellan, they have taken a noticeable step forward at even strength. In March alone, they generated 31.6 xG (second-best in the league), but found the net just 22 times at 5-on-5. The Red Wings have enough skilled players to ensure this bad luck doesn’t last long: Alexander DeBrincat, Dylan Larkin, and Lucas Raymond have each scored 24 goals or more. For the Senators, only Brady Tkachuk has reached that mark (29). And it’s worth noting, those numbers came during a brutal road swing featuring the likes of the Carolina Hurricanes, the Washington Capitals, the Vegas Golden Knights and the Colorado Avalanche.
Ottawa Senators
The Senators edged out the Red Wings (2:1) in a recent meeting, but they had Linus Ullmark to thank for that. The Swedish goaltender had the game of his season, stopping 48 shots and single-handedly turning aside 16 high-danger chances — overperforming his expected saves by 4.26 goals. But since then, his numbers have dipped back to earth: 87.4% save percentage and three goals conceded per game on average.
Detroit Red Wings vs Ottawa Senators Prediction
There’s every reason to expect a determined response from the Detroit Red Wings, who were hard done by in the reverse fixture. Back on home ice, with playoff hopes fuelling their fire, they should push aggressively for the win — regardless of the scoreline. Backing the home side’s offence to break loose makes sense here.
