NHL action is back — and Thursday’s slate is stacked. One of the most interesting matchups on the books is between the Ottawa Senators and the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Atlantic Division rivals both made the playoffs last year, suffering first-round exits. Now they’re back in action and looking to make another playoff run. Thursday is their chance to set the tone for the 2025-26 campaign.
The Lightning open as -166 home favorites on the moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. Calgary is listed as a +140 underdog, with the total set at 6.5 goals. Let’s take a look at a preview, prediction, and pick for this season’s matchup between the Senators and the Lightning.
Lightning vs. Senators Preview
Tampa Bay’s excellence continued last season. Nikita Kucherov was his usual dominant self, racking up a league-leading 121 points. He was supported by strong offensive seasons from Brayden Point (42 goals), Jake Guentzel (41 goals), and Brandon Hagel (90 points). That strong top four powered their offense to the most goals scored in the league during the 2024-25 season. With a strong defense to boot, it’s no wonder they ran it back, despite a disappointing early exit.
Last season marked a significant step in the Senators’ rebuild. They surprisingly leaped into the playoffs on the backs of a talented young core. Tim Stutzle, Brady Tkachuk, Jake Sanderson, and Drake Batherson all look like quality players in the league while being 27 or younger. Other young faces like Josh Norris and Shane Pinto provide them with depth, while Thomas Chabot remains a constant force on the blue line. Ottawa added some veterans in the mix this offseason to bolster its stability, but it’s still a team largely driven by youth.
So we’ve got the young upstarts against the experienced and proven winners. Who comes out on top?
Lightning vs. Senators Prediction, Pick
Tampa’s quality is difficult to overlook, but the Senators are rapidly on the rise. They possess high-end scoring talent to pressure the defense and a strong blue line. With more veterans in the fold, their floor is much higher. I like the road underdogs to pull off the upset here.
