...
...
Read Article
Panthers vs. Senators prediction: Ottawa favored to win Thursday's NHL matchup [4/9/2026]
Updated: | First published:
Written by Nick Slade, Chief Content Officer
Get Florida Panthers vs Ottawa Senators predictions for NHL Thursday.
The Ottawa Senators and Florida Panthers will meet in the NHL at Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday, starting at 7:00 PM ET.
Based on the latest simulation results, Dimers' advanced NHL model projects the Senators as the most likely winner of the Panthers vs. Senators game.
This article offers further insights into Thursday's matchup, including projected goal scorers, best bets and player prop picks.
Panthers vs. Senators prediction: Who will win and cover?
Using powerful machine learning and data, we have simulated the outcome of Thursday's NHL matchup between the Panthers and Senators, forming part of our NHL predictions coverage.
Our independent predictive model gives the Senators a 69% chance of beating the Panthers.
According to our model, the Panthers (+1.5) have a 53% chance of covering the puck line, while the 6.5-goal over/under has a 54% chance of staying under.
Panthers vs. Senators odds
We have sourced the best NHL odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
| Bet Type | Panthers | Senators |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | +1.5 (+124) | -1.5 (-144) |
| Moneyline | +310 | -375 |
| Total | o6.5 (+104) | u6.5 (-118) |
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Panthers vs. Senators picks and best bet
After matching our predictions against the best available odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:
| Bet Type | Pick | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | Panthers +1.5 | +124 |
| Moneyline | Panthers | +310 |
| Total | Under 6.5 | -118 |
According to our NHL best bets, the top play to make on this game is Panthers +1.5 at the spread.
These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the sportsbook odds.
Panthers vs. Senators player props
Who will score a goal in Panthers vs. Senators?
According to our model, Sam Bennett is most likely to score an anytime goal in Panthers vs. Senators.
Our projections give Bennett a 36.3% chance of scoring a goal at Canadian Tire Centre, while the star is a 7.0% chance of netting the first goal the game.
Anytime goal scorer predictions
Florida Panthers
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Sam Bennett | 36.3% |
| Carter Verhaeghe | 36.2% |
| Mackie Samoskevich | 23.8% |
| A.J. Greer | 19.6% |
| Noah Gregor | 19.2% |
Ottawa Senators
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Brady Tkachuk | 35.4% |
| Drake Batherson | 31.4% |
| Tim Stutzle | 30.9% |
| Shane Pinto | 28.8% |
| Dylan Cozens | 28.0% |
First goal scorer predictions
Florida Panthers
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Carter Verhaeghe | 7.4% |
| Sam Bennett | 7.0% |
| Mackie Samoskevich | 4.2% |
| Eetu Luostarinen | 3.5% |
| A.J. Greer | 3.2% |
Ottawa Senators
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Brady Tkachuk | 7.3% |
| Tim Stutzle | 6.5% |
| Drake Batherson | 6.2% |
| Dylan Cozens | 5.5% |
| Shane Pinto | 5.3% |
Panthers vs. Senators game-day updates and essential details
Thursday's game between the Senators and Panthers at Canadian Tire Centre is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM ET.
- Who: Florida Panthers vs. Ottawa Senators
- Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026
- Time: 7:00 PM ET/4:00PM PT
- Venue: Canadian Tire Centre
Conclusion
We predict the Senators, with a 69% win probability, will likely beat the Panthers in Thursday's NHL matchup.
Additional tools and information for betting safely can be found in our Responsible Gambling hub.
Nick Slade, with nearly two decades of experience, is the Chief Content Officer at Cipher Sports Technology Group, overseeing content for Dimers. He specializes in soccer, NBA, and NHL betting, leveraging predictive analytics and machine learning to provide accurate betting insights.
Advertiser disclosure