The Ottawa Senators host St Louis Blues at 10:30 am AEDT on Wednesday in a clash of two sides sitting mid-pack through the opening fortnight of the NHL season. Ottawa have won four of five to sit tenth on the ladder with a 4-1-0 record, but the Blues have firmed from $2.15 to $1.95 in the past 24 hours despite their 2-2-1 start leaving them 21st.
That movement tells a story — punters are backing the visitors to upset a Senators outfit that has been solid without spectacular at home ice. Ottawa are averaging 2.8 goals for and 2.2 against through five outings, while St Louis match them on offence (2.8 per game) but leak more (3.2 against). The Blues' possession numbers are stronger though, sitting at 52.8 percent Corsi compared to Ottawa's 48.4, suggesting they've been controlling more of the play even if the results haven't always followed.
Who gets the two points?
The Senators have the better record and home advantage, but the market has drifted them from $1.70 to $1.85 while St Louis firmed by twenty cents in the same window. That's punters sensing value in the road side, and the underlying numbers support a closer contest than the ladder positions suggest.
Ottawa's power play has been ordinary at 12.5 percent conversion, while their penalty kill sits at 78.26 — hardly elite. St Louis counter with a brutal penalty kill of their own at 93.33 percent, the sort of defensive discipline that keeps games tight. The Blues' power play is even quieter at 9.09 percent, so special teams may not swing this one unless someone breaks through late.
Tim Stützle leads the Senators attack with four goals and four assists through five games, while Drake Batherson has chipped in three goals and an apple. For St Louis, Jimmy Snuggerud has been the sparkplug with three goals and an assist, supported by Connor McMichael and Mason McTavish who each sit on two goals and two assists. There's scoring depth on both rosters, but neither side has been clinical enough to pull away from opponents consistently.
The firming of St Louis into favouritism reflects the market's read that Ottawa's home edge isn't as pronounced as the early ladder suggests. These nhl tips lean toward the Blues finding a way to nick the points on the road, with the possession numbers and tightening odds painting a picture of a side ready to put together a complete sixty minutes.
Tipped at $1.95 · . Opinion, not a guarantee. Gamble responsibly — 18+.
Head-to-head context
Season and last-five scoring — context for the match-winner market.
Leading scorers
Season goals and assists.
Ottawa Senators
| Player | G-A |
|---|---|
| Tim StützleLW | 9G 12A |
| Drake BathersonC | 9G 9A |
| Shane PintoC | 5G 6A |
St Louis Blues
| Player | G-A |
|---|---|
| Dylan HollowayC | 3G 9A |
| Jimmy SnuggerudRW | 8G 3A |
| Mason McTavishC | 6G 4A |
Can Ottawa cover the puck line spread?
The Senators are -1.5 on the puck line at $2.95, while St Louis gets the +1.5 start at $1.40. That's a hefty price to lay with Ottawa given they've only won four of five, and we don't have granular margin data to suggest they've been blowing teams out.
St Louis has shown enough resilience to stay within a goal or two even in losses — their 2-2-1 record includes an overtime defeat, meaning they've been competitive deep into games. The Blues +1.5 at short odds looks the safer play if you're backing them to keep it tight, but the value isn't screaming given the juice required.
Ottawa would need to win by two or more to cover, and nothing in their early form or the matchup dynamics suggests they're built to run away from a disciplined road side. This one shapes as a one-goal game either way, which makes the puck line spread less appealing than the straight result market.
Odds subject to change. Gamble responsibly — 18+.
How many goals in this one?
The total sits at 5.5 goals with Under priced at $2.00 and Over at $1.80. Both sides are averaging 2.8 goals scored per game, which would put the combined output right on the number if they hit their seasonal marks. Ottawa concedes 2.2 per game, St Louis 3.2, so a straight split of those defensive averages pushes toward the Under.
The Blues' penalty kill has been stifling at 93.33 percent, and Ottawa's power play hasn't been a weapon. That suggests fewer special-teams goals, and with both offences sitting at modest conversion rates (Blues 9.09 percent on the power play, Senators 12.5), this feels like a game that grinds rather than explodes.
Over 5.5 needs both teams to find the net twice and then some — not impossible given the offensive talent, but the defensive discipline and save percentages (Ottawa .916, St Louis .879) suggest goalies will have their say. The Under at $2.00 offers value if you're expecting a tight, low-event affair where one mistake decides it.
Tipped at $2.00 · . Opinion, not a guarantee. Gamble responsibly — 18+.
Total goals
Combined score from recent completed games · marker shows live line 5.5.
Hit rate vs 5.5
Season scoring rates per game. Marker is the live total of 5.5.
Same Game Multi angles
Same Game Multi markets are live for this one, and there are a few priced combos worth noting if you're chasing a bigger ticket. Blues -1.5 puck line combined with Robert Thomas to score first goal for St Louis pays $17 — a long-odds play that banks on the visitors winning comfortably and Thomas lighting the lamp early.
Another offering at $41 layers Blues to win with Jake Neighbours scoring first for the Blues in the opening period and Dylan Holloway finding twine at any point. That's three legs requiring St Louis dominance from the drop of the puck, which feels ambitious given their road record and Ottawa's home ice.
For those backing a tight first period and a Senators fightback, Blues -0.5 puck line in the first period, Under 1.5 goals in the first, and Tim Stützle to score last goal sits at $51. The odds reflect the difficulty of threading that needle — a low-scoring start and a late Sens goal to steal it. None of these combos scream value, but they're there for punters chasing the big return on a specific narrative.