Ottawa Senators at Florida Panthers odds, picks and predictions

The Ottawa Senators (37-34-7) take on the Florida Panthers (40-31-7) in a clash with playoff implications Thursday at FLA Live Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Senators vs. Panthers odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.

Despite dropping 3 games in a row, Ottawa remains alive for a Wild Card berth. It's unlikely as the Sens are 6 points behind the Panthers and New York Islanders for a spot. The Senators are 4-3-3 over the last 10 games. One of those was a 5-2 win over the Panthers in Ottawa.

Florida has won 4 in a row and currently holds a tiebreaker over the Islanders for the Eastern Conference's No. 1 Wild Card. The Panthers and Isles are being pushed by the Pittsburgh Penguins, who sit 1 point back. This is an important game, and it's one Senators LW Brady Tkachuk would love to hold over his brother LW Matthew Tkachuk of the Panthers.