Blues Edge Senators in Close Contest

In a tightly contested matchup, the St. Louis Blues defeated the Ottawa Senators 2-1 at the Canadian Tire Centre, marking their third consecutive victory over Ottawa in their series, which they now lead 2-0 for the season. The game showcased the Blues' ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities, with Jake Neighbours netting two goals, while the Senators struggled to find their rhythm offensively.

The Senators entered the game with a home record of 13-11-4, while the Blues had an away record of 10-12-7. Ottawa's recent form at home has been mixed, with a record of 5-5 in their last ten games, although they had lost their last match against the New York Rangers 2-4. Their average scoring at home stood at 2.7 goals per game, while they allowed an average of 2.9 goals. In contrast, the Blues had a more challenging run, recording a 3-7 record in their last ten games, and they were on a two-game losing streak prior to this match. St. Louis averaged 1.9 goals scored and 2.9 allowed during this stretch.

Historically, the Senators have struggled against the Blues, with the last three meetings resulting in two wins for St. Louis and one for Ottawa. Their previous encounter on November 28 saw the Blues edge out the Senators 4-3. The Senators were also dealing with injury issues, missing key players such as Ridly Greig (suspension), Artem Zub (lower body), and Jake Sanderson (concussion), which likely impacted their performance.

The betting odds from DraftKings reflected the competitive nature of the game, with Ottawa listed at -155 on the moneyline and St. Louis at +130. The spread was set at -1.5 in favor of Ottawa, while the total for the game was 5.5, with both the over and under priced at -110.

Conditions for the game were typical for December in Ottawa, with the cold weather potentially influencing the pace of play. Fans were treated to an exciting showdown, with the Senators looking to improve their home performance against a Blues team that had recently found some form.

The scoring plays highlighted the Blues' efficiency; Neighbours opened the scoring in the second period with a batted goal, assisted by Brayden Schenn and Pius Suter. He then added his second goal in the third period with a tip-in, assisted by Pavel Buchnevich. The Senators finally got on the board late in the third period when Fabian Zetterlund scored with a wrist shot, assisted by Stephen Halliday and Claude Giroux, but it was not enough to secure a comeback.

Overall, the game underscored the Blues' dominance in the series and the ongoing struggles of the Senators, particularly in front of their home crowd.