The Columbus Blue Jackets and the Washington Capitals face off at Capital One Arena in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. USA, R360, TVA3 and NSWA will air the matchup, which gets underway at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 12.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Washington Capitals Odds
With a moneyline of -145, Washington enters the game as the substantial favorite. The line for Columbus sits at +125, and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-120 money on the under, +100 on the over). Those O/U odds have shifted after initially opening at -110 for both.
Washington is 49-33 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 10.9 units this season. That win percentage, ranked first in the Metropolitan Division so far this season, is a slide from what the team recorded during last year’s regular season (55-27). Through 82 regular season outings, 46 of its games have gone over the total, while 34 have gone under and just two have pushed. The team’s 28-13 SU at home this season.
The Capitals have been able to convert on 22.5 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 16th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 80.3 percent of all penalties.
The Capitals, as a collective unit, have been penalized 4.0 times per game overall this season, and 3.2 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s had to kill penalties for just 7.8 minutes per game over their last 10 matchups, in total.
Averaging 27.7 saves per game with a .907 save percentage, Braden Holtby (34-20-4) has been the best option in goal for Washington this year. If head coach Barry Trotz chooses to give him a breather, however, the team could go with Philipp Grubauer (15-20-20 record, .923 save percentage, 2.35 goals against average).
Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov will each be focal points for the Capitals. Ovechkin (87 points) has tallied 49 goals and 38 assists and has recorded two or more points 23 times this year. Kuznetsov has 27 goals and 56 assists to his name and has notched a point in 49 contests.
On the other bench, Columbus is 45-37 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 0.1 units this season. Through 82 regular season contests, 41 of its games have gone over the total, while 40 have gone under and just one has pushed. The Blue Jackets are 19-22 SU as the visiting team this season.
The Blue Jackets have converted on just 17.0 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that places them in the bottom-10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 28th overall and it’s successfully defended 76.1 percent of all penalties.
Columbus’ skaters have been whistled for penalties only 3.0 times per game this season, 3.2 per game over their last five match ups total, and 3.4 per game over their last five on the road. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays just 7.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Sergei Bobrovsky (2.42 goals against average and .921 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Columbus. Bobrovsky is averaging 28.2 saves per game and has 37 wins, 28 losses, and six OT losses to his credit.
Artemi Panarin (27 goals, 55 assists) has been one of the primary playmakers on offense for the visiting Blue Jackets.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Washington Capitals Betting Predictions
Free Pick: SU Winner – Blue Jackets, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
Over Washington’s last ten outings, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-1 in those games).
Power plays and penalty kills may be critical in tonight’s game. The Blue Jackets are 20-17 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 39-29 when they’re in the box for fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Capitals are 16-10 when the team serves fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 28-17 in games where they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
Washington is 3-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Columbus is 6-4 in shootouts.
The over has hit in three of Washington’s last five outings.
Washington is ranked 25th this season with 10.7 giveaways per game. That figure has improved recently, however, as it’s averaged 9.5 giveaways over its last 10 games and 9.0 giveaways over its last five.
Columbus has averaged 9.2 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 6.3 giveaways per game (the fifth-fewest in the league).
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