The Wells Fargo Center plays host to a divisional tilt as the Washington Capitals square off against the Philadelphia Flyers. It’s the fourth and final time that the two clubs will go at it in the regular season. The puck drops at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 18, and you’ll be able to view the game live on NBC Sports Philadelphia.
Washington Capitals at Philadelphia Flyers Odds
Washington is 41-30 straight up (SU) and has netted 6.4 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 71 regular season matches, 40 of its games have gone over the total, while 30 have gone under and just one has pushed. The Caps are 16-19 SU on the road in 2017-18.
Washington has converted on 22.9 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s good enough for fourth-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 21st overall, and it has successfully killed off 79.4 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Caps have been sent to the penalty box 4.1 times per game in the 2017-18 season, and 2.8 per game over its last five on the road. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 7.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 27.6 saves per game with a .906 save percentage, Braden Holtby (30-19-4) has been the primary option in goal for Washington this season. If Washington decides to rest him, however, head coach Barry Trotz might turn to Philipp Grubauer (11-18-3), who has a .925 save percentage and 2.26 goals against average this year.
Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov will both lead the way for the visiting Capitals. Ovechkin has 76 points via 42 goals and 34 assists, and has recorded two or more points 20 times. Kuznetsov has 21 goals and 50 assists to his name, and has logged a point in 42 games.
On the other bench, Philadelphia is 36-36 straight up (SU) and has lost 4.5 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 72 regular season contests, 36 of its games have gone over the total, while 33 have gone under and just two have pushed. The team is 17-19 SU at home this season.
The Flyers have converted on just 20.1 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 29th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 75.4 percent of all penalties.
Philadelphia players have been sent to the penalty box only 3.5 times per game in total this season, and 2.4 per game over their last five games. The team has had to defend opponent power plays just 6.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Brian Elliott has stopped 26.3 shots per game as the primary netminder in goal for the Flyers. Elliott has 22 wins, 19 losses, and seven OT losses to his credit and has recorded a pedestrian 2.72 goals against average and a fairly-weak .908 save percentage this season.
The Flyers will be led on offense by Claude Giroux (26 goals, 57 assists).
Washington Capitals at Philadelphia Flyers Betting Predictions
Prediction: SU Winner – Flyers, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Five of Philadelphia’s last ten games have been decided by two or more goals, and the club is 1-4 overall in those games.
Washington has averaged 3.1 goals per game overall this year, but has raised that figure up to 4.5 per match up over their four-game winning streak.
The Capitals are 14-8 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 23-15 in games where they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes.
Two of Philadelphia’s last ten games have gone to a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 2-6 overall in shootouts this season.
Washington might hold the upper hand if it’s a tight one late. The team’s 17-12 in one-goal games, while Philadelphia is 15-19 in such games.
The total has gone under in three of Philadelphia’s last five outings.
Philadelphia skaters have averaged 8.6 giveaways over its last five home games, its season average of 9.3 giveaways per game (ranked 14th in the league).
Washington is ranked 25th this season with 10.9 giveaways per game. That figure has trended down recently, however, as the team’s averaged 10.0 giveaways over its last 10 games and 6.8 giveaways over its last five.
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