Welcome to just another Sunday edition of NHL Predictions. If only it were that simple. For today’s edition, the Vegas Golden Knights stop in for a date with the Ottawa Senators. Find out if Ottawa can somehow find a way to prevail, or if Vegas flexes their muscles that make them a Western Conference powerhouse.
NHL Predictions Golden Knights and Senators
Season Series: Ottawa won their only other meeting, November 26th, 4-3 via shootout.
Puck Drop: 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
How to Watch: RDS2, TSN5, SCRIPPS
Location: Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario
Seeing Vegas come to town always makes us reminiscent of when Mark Stone wore the ‘A’ in Ottawa. He was a stud then, and he is a stud now, and deserving of his Team Canada nod.
Checking In On Vegas
We realize that Stone has had more than his share of injury problems throughout his career. However, in 2025-26, when he has laced them up, he has been on fire. It seems he has been motivated to show he is more than worthy of his Canadian Olympic roster selection. In 34 games played, he already has 20 goals and up to 52 points.
Along with Stone, one of his common linemates, Jack Eichel is likewise having a statement season. Eichel leads Vegas in scoring, with nearly an assist a game. In 43 games, he has 42 assists and 61 points.
Vegas will look to apply a second dagger, following a big win against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday night.
How About them Sens?
Let’s be honest, Ottawa did battle hard last night. But in the end, it wasn’t to be. As the season drags along in the nation’s capital, it feels as though the Stanley Cup Playoffs are trending in a similar direction as the game last night, it just wasn’t to be. Furthermore, to add more to the weight the Sens are feeling, they have the hardest schedule to finish the season. The winning percentage of their remaining competition is a scary .588. If you didn’t think they were in one, they are, in, one.
#Sens have recalled Mads Sogaard from their AHL affiliate in Belleville. There is a storm heading through Eastern Canada and the U.S. tomorrow. With back-to-back games, they need to have a goalie available in case someone gets injured.
— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) January 24, 2026
There are plenty of questions of who will be in net today. There has been plenty of chatter that Linus Ullmark is close. However, the Sens did callup Mads Sogaard yesterday. This could have been in case weather prevented other last minute plans, so just to have him there for insurance. Also, there was an informal meeting with a Danish politician, so he could have just wanted to be apart of that. Nikolaj Ehlers, Lars Eller, and Frederik Andersen were also there as a Danish contingent. Therefore, it could have also been just a gesture of good faith to call up Sogaard so he was included. Either way, James Reimer and Hunter Shepard could either be the starter to today. Even though the 37-year-old Reimer played yesterday, we think he goes again. Shepard likely backs him up. This would be the time to drop our disclaimer. Be sure to check social media before locking in your daily fantasy starting lineup.
More On the Story in Ottawa
Many of the Sens played a hard-fought games last night versus the Carolina Hurricanes. Unfortunately, that was after having fallen behind 3-0 early. For the Sens organization, it is extra tough because not only are they struggling to try to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs right now, and it is not going their way, but they also don’t have their first-round NHL Entry Draft selection in the upcoming draft. Given the expected talent of this year’s draft group, that is doubly hard to handle. This is very likely a cause of hesitancy for general manager Steve Staios to make bigger moves to shake things up.
The Sens do need to stick to the process and not panic. However, that can be very hard to understand as a follower of the club. For instance, the old adage, the best defence, is a good offence. Maybe that is what Ottawa needs to focus on. Their collective ability to drive play 5v5 needs to be their ride or die. Keep the foot and don’t let it off. Giving up one or two goals early, just means they need to believe in the process. If they trust their strategy, they would theoretically be able to outscore many of those other little difficulties. Attack Vegas relentlessly, and they should be okay. With those down-low battles in the corners, and when they front of the net opens up, bury it. Hey, they got the two points back in November.
NHL Predictions
We think Ottawa has had enough. They will win, because they have had enough. They will let the people talk, and go out there and get the business done, on the ice. That’s captain Brady Tkachuk‘s way, lead with impunity, let his actions do the talking.
Prediction: Golden Knights 2 – Senators 3
Prop Bets
For Ottawa, we think Stutzle gets one. He was skating really hard last night against Carolina, and we think it continues. For Vegas, we will go with Stone. He has been so hot, plus he will be motivated playing against the team he spent seven seasons with.
Main Photo Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
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