NHL Predictions: Vancouver Canucks at Ottawa Senators

Time: 7:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST), 4:00 p.m. Pacific

How to Watch: Sportsnet+, SN, ESPN+, NHL Centre Ice

2025-2026 Season Series: Ottawa 0-0 Vancouver (Series tied 1-1 last season)

The Vancouver Canucks embark on the second game of a back-to-back against the Ottawa Senators. Both teams are struggling immensely, as they sit at the bottom of their respective conference standings. One team will leave here with a much-needed win, and the other will fall deeper into the hole they’ve dug themselves in. The Canucks sit at 16-24-5 after 45 games, with 37 points, while the Senators sit at 20-19-5 after 45 games, with 45 points. Vancouver comes into this matchup having lost seven-consecutive games, while Ottawa has lost four straight. Needless to say, not ideal for either side.

The Canucks Story

Talk about a rough couple of weeks for this team. Having lost seven-straight games, they have also encountered news of Thatcher Demko and Kiefer Sherwood being injured. One could argue that those two are the most critical pieces of this hockey team, one being the starting goalie, the other being the top goal-scorer. This is a team that already struggles to put the puck in the net as well as defending, so if this is not some of the worst injury fate this season, we do not know what is. Coming off a lopsided loss to the Montreal Canadiens, they will look to snap their losing streak against the struggling Sens.

The Senators Story

The Senators have their own problems to worry about as well. Amidst rumours of a fractured locker room and drama off the ice, Ottawa is at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Their Stanley Cup Playoff hopes are slipping away, as they sit seven points out of the last Wild Card spot. They are 2-6-1 in their last nine games, getting outscored 38-24 in that span of games. Leevi Meriläinen has had the starter role in the absence of Linus Ullmark, but he has struggled, with a 6-10-0 record, 3.48 goals against average, and an .866 save percentage. The recent signing of James Reimer may indicate that he gets a chance to show his worth soon.

Starting Goalies

*Below are the projected starters for tonight’s game. Please check social media for the most updated information before locking in your daily fantasy lineups.

Vancouver: Kevin Lankinen

Ottawa: Leevi Meriläinen

NHL Prediction

One of these teams will snap its losing streak tonight. We will pick the Senators to be able to do so against a heavily injured Canucks team. It will likely be a sloppy game from both sides, but in that sense, it could be an entertaining, high-scoring affair. We like goals, don’t we?

Prediction: Senators win 5-3.

Prop Bets

To wrap things up, here are our anytime goal scorer picks. For the Canucks, we will pick Elias Pettersson, the forward, who has scored more consistently as of late. On the Ottawa side of things, count on Drake Batherson to pot a goal.

Main Photo Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

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