When it's bad versus bad, like this matchup, my first look is to back the underdog. Throw in this being Ottawa's initial visit to the Coyotes' new temporary home - Mullett Arena on the campus of Arizona State - and I like the Coyotes to not only win the first period, but the game, too.

The Coyotes have a winning home mark. Visiting opponents have trouble adjusting to the smaller dimensions compared to normal professional hockey arenas.

Arizona has lost six in a row. However, the Coyotes led in four of those six games. The Senators have the third-fewest points in the Eastern Conference. So the bar is not set very high here for the Coyotes to win.

Ottawa has lost in seven of its last nine games against Arizona.