In their last head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the Vancouver Canucks and the Washington Capitals face off at Capital One Arena for a cross-continent showdown. The puck drops at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, January 9, and you will be able to catch it live on Sportsnet Pacific.
Vancouver Canucks vs. Washington Capitals Odds
Washington (-230) is currently the favorite over Vancouver (+190), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -120 under, +100 over.
Washington is 26-16 straight up (SU) and has netted 7.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. That winning percentage, ranked third in the league in this young season, is a regression from the 55-27 record that the team posted during last year’s regular season campaign. Through 42 regular season contests, 24 of the team’s games have gone over the total, while 18 have gone under and none have pushed. The team’s 17-5 SU at home this year.
The Capitals have converted on 20.2 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 24th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 79.9 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, the Capitals have been penalized 4.2 times per game overall this season, and 3.2 per game over their last five games home outings. The team has had to kill penalties for just 8.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings, in total.
Averaging 28.5 saves per game with a .917 save percentage, Braden Holtby (24-8) has been the best option in goal for the Caps this season. If Washington chooses to give him the night off, however, the team might go with Philipp Grubauer (2-11-11 record, .909 save percentage, 2.70 goals against average).
The Caps will continue to look for leadership from Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov. Ovechkin (45 points) has tallied 27 goals and 18 assists and has recorded two or more points in 11 different games this year. Kuznetsov has 12 goals and 27 assists to his credit and has notched a point in 24 games.
Vancouver is 16-26 straight up (SU) and has lost 5.5 units for moneyline bettors this year. A total of 24 of its games have gone over the total, while 18 have gone under and none have pushed. The Canucks are 9-11 SU as an away team this season.
The Canucks have converted on 20.4 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 28th overall and it’s successfully killed off 77.7 percent of all penalties.
Vancouver’s players have been penalized 4.0 times per game this season, 3.6 per game over their last five outings total, and 4.0 per game over their last five games as the visiting team. The team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 8.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Jacob Markstrom (2.76 goals against average and .907 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Vancouver. Markstrom is averaging 26.1 saves per game and has 10 wins, 20 losses, and five OT losses to his credit.
Leading the offensive attack for the visiting Canucks will be Brock Boeser, who’s got 22 goals and 18 assists on the year.
Vancouver Canucks vs. Washington Capitals Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Capitals, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Washington is 3-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Vancouver is 0-3 in shootouts.
The over has hit in four of Washington’s last five outings.
Washington’s attempted 28.9 shots per game overall this season (ranked 31st in the NHL), and 27.8 across their last 10 games.
Washington has averaged 3.1 goals per game overall this season, but has raised it up to 4.5 per match up across its four-game win streak.
Over Vancouver’s last ten games, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 1-5 in those games).
The Caps this season have handed the 11th-most hits per game (22.5), but the team’s averaged 25.4 over their last five games as the home team.
