Ottawa (0-0-0) at Tampa Bay (0-0-0)
- When: Oct 9 2025, 7:00 PM
- Where: Benchmark International Arena, Tampa, FL, USA
- TV: The Spot
Ottawa vs Tampa Bay NHL Preview & Pick
Moneyline: Tampa Bay -170
Spread: Tampa Bay -1.5 (+155)
Total: 6.0
Ottawa Senators Outlook
The Senators finally broke through last season, ending an eight-year playoff drought and bringing optimism back to Canada’s capital. Under coach Travis Green, Ottawa went 45-30-7 for 97 points and earned the top wild card spot before falling to Toronto in six hard-fought games. That experience, while brief, gave the young core a taste of what it takes to compete when the stakes are highest.
Ottawa made key offseason moves to strengthen its defense, most notably acquiring Jordan Spence from the Los Angeles Kings. The 24-year-old brings playoff experience and composure to the blue line and is expected to pair with Tyler Kleven on the third defensive unit. The Senators hope his steady play helps stabilize a group that occasionally struggled with discipline and turnovers last season.
Top defenseman Thomas Chabot believes the playoff run set a new standard. “Once you get there, you want to stay there,” he said, echoing the organization’s renewed mindset. The Senators’ talented forward core, featuring Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stützle, and Claude Giroux, will again drive the offense. Stützle’s speed and creativity give Ottawa the kind of dynamic scoring threat that can keep up with any team in the Atlantic Division.
Tampa Bay Lightning Outlook
The Lightning enter the season determined to prove their championship window remains wide open. They wrapped up a bruising preseason with a 6-1-0 record that included two bad-tempered tilts with the rival Florida Panthers, games that looked more like boxing matches than hockey contests.
Their finale against Florida turned into a full-blown brawl, producing 322 combined penalty minutes and multiple ejections. The chaos earned Tampa Bay a $100,000 team fine and a two-game suspension for defenseman J.J. Moser, who will miss this opener. Coach Jon Cooper downplayed the incident, saying it was about “guys sticking up for each other.” Still, the Lightning made sure to beef up the lineup by adding massive forwards Curtis Douglas (6-foot-9) and Jack Finley (6-foot-6) for extra muscle.
Offensively, Tampa Bay continues to revolve around Nikita Kucherov, who has firmly cemented his place among the league’s elite. With 637 career assists and back-to-back Art Ross trophies, Kucherov remains the creative engine for this veteran team. He is just six points away from the 1,000 mark and could become only the second player since Wayne Gretzky to record four straight seasons with 80 or more assists.
Tampa Bay’s preseason dominance suggests their offense is already in midseason form. The question will be whether they can keep their emotions in check and stay disciplined against a young, hungry Ottawa squad.
NHL Prediction & Betting Angle
Ottawa comes into this matchup with renewed confidence and playoff aspirations, but Tampa Bay’s experience and home ice advantage make them a tough first test. The Lightning’s top line should create consistent scoring chances, while the Senators’ defense adjusts to its new pairings.
Score Prediction: Lightning 4, Senators 2
Pick: Tampa Bay -1.5 (+155)
Total: Under 6.5 Alt Lines (-135)
- NHL Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
