Chicago Blackhawks vs Ottawa Senators Picks and Predictions March 5th 2025

Chicago Blackhawks vs Ottawa Senators March 5th 2025

Planning on watching today’s Senators and Blackhawks game? Catch the action at United Center in Chicago, IL, as the Blackhawks hosts this showdown at 7:30 ET on ESPN+. The Senators come into this non-conference matchup favored by -1.5 goals. The over/under line currently sits at 6 goals.

Ottawa vs. Chicago Key Information

• Teams: Senators at Blackhawks
• Where: United Center Chicago
• Date: Wednesday, March 5th
• Betting Odds OTT -199 | CHI +168 O/U 6

The Senators Can Win If…

With a 3-0 win over the Kraken, the Senators moved to 30-26-5 this season. Ottawa covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total was set at 6.5 goals, but the combined score of 3 fell well short of that mark.

All three of Ottawa’s goals came from different players, and they kept Seattle off the board. Adam Gaudette opened the scoring at 14:32 in the first period.

In their 3-0 win over the Kraken, the Senators’ offense was led by Adam Gaudette, who netted his 7th goal of the season at 14:32 in the first period. Brady Tkachuk followed with his 7th goal, scoring 11:11 into the second period. Tim Stützle added an empty-netter, his 6th goal of the year, with 2:14 left in the game.

Ottawa took 23 shots on goal and recorded 11 giveaways. The Senators didn’t score on the power play but picked up 5 assists, including Tim Stützle’s 10th of the season on Tkachuk’s goal.

On the defensive side, Anton Forsberg made 22 saves with a 100% save percentage, helping the Senators secure a 3-0 victory. The defense also contributed 2 takeaways and 25 hits.

• Ottawa has put together a record of 1-2 in their last three games (regular season). This also includes going 2-1 ATS, and posting an over-under record of 2-1.
• Ottawa has put together a record of 4-6 in their last ten games (regular season). Their record vs the puck line sits at 5-5 in these matchups, while posting a 9-1 over-under mark.

The Blackhawks Can Win If…

Chicago improved to 19-35-7 with a 4-2 win over the Ducks. The Blackhawks covered the puck line as underdogs, and the total of 6 goals fell short of the 6.5 line.

Four different players scored for the Blackhawks, who held the Ducks scoreless until the third period. Isaak Phillips opened the scoring at 7:03 in the first period.

Chicago’s offense found the net four times in their 4-2 win over Anaheim, with four different players scoring. Ryan Donato picked up his 7th goal of the season, while Seth Jones added his 2nd. Teuvo Teravainen, with his 4th goal, scored on a power play, and Isaak Phillips got things started with his 1st goal of the year.

The Blackhawks took 29 shots on goal and scored twice on power plays. Connor Bedard contributed with three assists, bringing his total to 9 for the season. The Blackhawks ended the game with 12 giveaways.

Defensively, the Blackhawks will look to carry over their performance from their previous game, where they allowed just two goals to the Ducks. Arvid Söderblom made 38 saves with a 95% save percentage. The defense also had 6 takeaways and 5 hits. Both goals they allowed came in the 3rd period, with one coming at 10:16 and the other at 19:56.

• Spanning across their last three games, Chicago have gone 2-1. Their strong play has also resulted in an puck line mark of 2-1 (last 3). They had an over/under mark of 3-0 in those same games.
• Across Chicago’s last ten regular season games, their record sits at 3-7. Their record against the puck line in this stretch is 6-4 to go along with an over-under mark of 8-1-1.

The Lean

For those seeking a straight moneyline bet, the Senators are the top choice. Nonetheless, with a payout of -199, you might want to use this bet as a part of a parlay to get better odds.

If you’re looking for my recommendation on the puck line, I suggest taking the Blackhawks to cover. Even if the Senators manage to win outright, this game is expected to remain competitive, and the Blackhawks should cover the puck line.

For those looking at the over/under line set at 6 goals, our expectation is that this game will surpass that mark, and we suggest making a bet on the over.

Struggling Senators Visit Blackhawks Squad Riding Recent High

The Ottawa Senators are searching for a much-needed turnaround when they visit the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night.

While Ottawa (1-5-1 in its last seven games) is struggling to find consistency, Chicago is coming off back-to-back wins for the first time since mid-December.

Senators Seeking Better Starts, End to Road Struggles

Ottawa has dropped four straight road games, and its slow starts have been a key issue.

After managing to erase a 2-1 third-period deficit in a 5-3 home win over San Jose on Saturday, the Senators fell behind 3-0 against Washington before battling back to force a shootout in a 5-4 loss Monday.

Head coach Travis Green acknowledged the team’s resilience but knows they need to start games stronger.

“I don’t like getting down 3-0, but we showed a lot of character coming back,” Green said.

Shane Pinto was instrumental in the rally, scoring two goals, while Claude Giroux (goal, assist) and Brady Tkachuk (23 goals, team leader) also found the net.

Despite the loss, Tim Stutzle continued his red-hot form, tallying two assists to extend his franchise-record assist streak to 11 games. He also set a career-best 12-game point streak (four goals, 14 assists), leading Ottawa in assists (44) and points (63).

Blackhawks Heating Up After Tough Stretch

After a brutal 5-16-5 run, Chicago has found life, winning consecutive games in Anaheim (6-3) and Los Angeles (5-1).

Scoring has not been an issue for the Blackhawks, who have 16 goals in their last three games.

Ryan Donato has been on fire, scoring his team-leading 22nd goal in Monday’s dominant win over the Kings. He now has 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists) over his last 16 games and is riding a five-game point streak (three goals, five assists).

Spencer Knight Shines in Chicago Debut

Goaltender Spencer Knight made an immediate impact in his first game with the Blackhawks, recording a season-high 41 saves against Los Angeles.

Knight was acquired from Florida along with a 2026 first-round pick in exchange for defenseman Seth Jones and will be a key piece in Chicago’s rebuilding efforts.

Despite the chaos of adjusting to a new team, Knight is embracing the challenge.

“No matter how smoothly things are going, the first week or so is going to feel like chaos,” Knight said. “But I think I’ve learned to embrace that. I’ve been through a lot of difficult challenges in my life. It’s another step in the journey.”

Key Matchups to Watch

• Tim Stutzle vs. Chicago’s Defense: Stutzle is on a career-best scoring stretch and will test Chicago’s improving blue line.
• Ryan Donato vs. Ottawa’s Goaltending: Donato is Chicago’s hottest scorer and could be a difference-maker.
• Spencer Knight vs. Ottawa’s Attack: Will Knight continue his strong start in Chicago’s net, or will the Senators finally start fast?

Explore comprehensive NHL Conference odds and predictions to see which teams are favored this season

What’s at Stake?

• For Ottawa: A chance to snap its road losing streak and gain momentum heading into the final stretch.
• For Chicago: A win would mark its longest streak since December and prove the young team is turning a corner.

With Ottawa needing points to stay relevant in the East and Chicago playing its best hockey in weeks, expect an entertaining battle between two teams with very different recent trajectories.