A couple of teams that are squarely in playoff contention, the Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins clash at PPG Paints Arena for a divisional matchup. The action gets going at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, February 2 and it’ll be broadcasted live on Sportsnet.
Washington Capitals at Pittsburgh Penguins Odds
Pittsburgh (-150) is currently favored over Washington (+130), and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total sit at -115 money on the over and -105 on the under.
Washington is 30-20 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 5.8 units this season. 28 of its contests have gone over the total, while 22 have gone under and none have pushed. This 2017-18 Capitals team is 11-12 SU on the road.
Washington has converted on 20.9 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. Its penalty kill is ranked 18th in the league, and it has successfully killed off 80.4 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, Washington has been sent to the penalty box 4.2 times per game overall in the 2017-18 season, 4.4 per game over its last five games total, and 4.4 per game over its last five road outings. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays 10.0 minutes per game over their last five road outings.
Averaging 28.4 saves per game with a .916 save percentage, Braden Holtby (26-11-2) has been the primary option in goal for Washington this year. If head coach Barry Trotz decides to rest him, however, Washington might go with Philipp Grubauer (4-12-3 record, .917 save percentage, 2.56 goals against average).
The visiting Capitals will be led by Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov. Ovechkin (53 points) has tallied 30 goals and 23 assists, and has recorded multiple points in 14 different games. Kuznetsov has 13 goals and 33 assists to his name (and has logged at least one point in 29 games).
On the other side of the rink, Pittsburgh is 28-24 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.1 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 26 of its outings have gone over the total, while 24 have gone under and just two have pushed. This season, the team is 18-8 SU as the home team.
Pittsburgh enters the matchup with the second-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as the team has converted on 26.7 percent of its extra-man opportunities this season. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 12th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.2 percent of all opponent power plays.
Pittsburgh players have been sent to the penalty box 4.3 times per game in total this season, and 5.0 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s had to kill penalties 8.8 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Matt Murray has denied 25.2 shots per game as the primary netminder in goal for Pittsburgh. Murray has 18 wins, 14 losses, and one OT loss to his credit and has maintained a mediocre 2.90 goals against average and a poor .906 save percentage this year.
The home team offense will be led by Phil Kessel (21 goals, 38 assists).
Washington Capitals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Predictions
NHL Tip: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
The under has hit in three of Pittsburgh’s last five games.
Washington has managed 29.6 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Pittsburgh is averaging 37.2 shots per game over its last five at home.
The Capitals are 11-4 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 16-9 when they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 total minutes.
Washington is 3-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Pittsburgh is 2-1 in shootouts.
Pittsburgh has created 9.0 takeaways per game over its last five home games, an improvement over its season average of 6.5 takeaways per game (ranked 22nd overall).
Washington skaters have averaged 8.6 takeaways per game over its last five road games, an improvement over its season average of 7.3 takeaways per game (ranked 16th).
