Faria's prediction: Expect goals galore in the first NHL game of 2026.
NHL
The NHL rings in the New Year with a matinee between the Ottawa Senators and Washington Capitals as the hosts look to snap a three-game losing streak.
Both clubs have been putting up tons of goals, and my Capitals vs. Senators predictions and NHL picks explain why they’ll cash another Over on Thursday, January 1.
Capitals vs Senators best bet: Over 6.5 (+115)
The Ottawa Senators and Washington Capitals will both look to turn a new page in the new year, with Ottawa ending 2025 on a three-game losing skid and Washington winning just three of its last 10 contests.
Team defense has ailed both clubs during their cold streaks, which is why I’m expecting the first game of 2026 to be another high-scoring battle.
With Linus Ullmark away from the team, the Senators will likely turn to Leevi Merilainen, who owns an .869 SV% and 3.51 GAA. The Capitals’ likely starter, Logan Thompson, has also given up 4+ goals in three of his last four starts.
The Caps have cashed the Over in four straight games, with every one of those contests featuring at least seven total goals. Meanwhile, the Sens have hit the Over in three of their last five, averaging eight total goals per game during that span.
The Over is the easy play this afternoon.
Tim Stutzle leads the Senators with 19 tallies and just had a four-game goal streak snapped on Monday. The Sens star has eight goals in his last 10 games and is holding a hot stick this season, converting on just under 20% of his shots.
Jakob Chychrun leads all defensemen in the NHL with 138 shots on net and has recorded Over 2.5 shots in three straight games and five of his last six.
The Over is 6-2 in the last eight meetings. Find more NHL betting trends for Capitals vs. Senators.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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After writing a few pieces for the Varsity newspaper during his time at the University of Toronto, Chris Faria’s career in sports truly began in 2019 when he attended the sports journalism program at Centennial College. Since then, he’s covered virtually every sport under the sun, having written for several different outlets including Covers and the Canadian Olympic Committee. A lifelong hockey fan and player, Chris currently works full-time for the National Hockey League.
Outside of hockey, he’s also an avid poker player and mixed martial arts fan, which is coincidentally his favorite sport to bet on – usually in the form of a parlay on bet365. The main lesson he’s learned from years of betting is bankroll management: “Never bet more than you’re comfortable losing and never chase your losses.”
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