Hockey betting handicappers continue to be surprised by the Ottawa Senators as they have been a team that consistently exceeds expectations.
Bargain Value
The Senators consistently get picked to miss the playoffs and yet have posted winning seasons in 4 out of the last 5 years. Ottawa finished 44-32-1-5 last year and took the Pittsburgh Penguins to 6 games in an opening round playoff series before being eliminated. Ottawa opened as a +3500 choice at Sbg sportsbook to win the Stanley Cup in 2011.
Ottawa is considered to be a small market franchise and garners little attention from the gambling public. In Canada they are dwarfed for attention by the traditional favorites; the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs. Even the Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers, and Calgary Flames get longer looks from fans and gamblers than Ottawa.
This has often made the Senators a better than even bargain value as oddsmakers have been forced to sweeten the pot and up the ante on Ottawa in order to attract action their way.
A Balanced Team
Ottawa ranked in the middle of the pack last year for both offensive production and defense. They have consistently been one of the most balanced teams in NHL hockey betting which makes them a challenging and potent commodity any time they take to the ice.
Veteran Help
Veteran defenseman Sergei Gonchar has arrived from Pittsburgh to help shore up the Ottawa blue line. Gonchar was highly impressed with Ottawa’s ability in the playoffs last year. But Gonchar is 36 years of age and joins other senior start such as Daniel Alfredsson and Alex Kovalev who have all been in and out of the injury list. The Senators have one of the oldest rosters in the league and their window for contending for the Stanley Cup is closing.
Expensive Netminder?
Brian Elliott is coming off a poor hockey betting playoff series in which he was lit up for 14 goals in 4 games. Elliott stands to make $3.8 million this year which seems like a stiff price for such a questionable commodity. But Ottawa coach Cory Clouston will likely give him every chance to keep the job since the Senators have so much invested in him.
Solid Foundation
Ottawa is a perennial NHL hockey betting playoff team but lacks the one true superstar that can get them into elite status. They look to remain a solid board value.