The Washington Capitals at the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena in Game 3 of the NHL playoffs opening round. The first puck will drop at 7:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, April 17, and fans at home can witness it live on NBC Sports Network.
Washington Capitals at Columbus Blue Jackets Odds
Washington (+120) is playing the role of underdog to Columbus (-140) and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals. The line for betting the total stands at -110 for the over and -110 on the under.
Washington is 49-35 straight up (SU) and has netted 7.8 units for moneyline bettors this season. 48 of its outings have gone over the total, while 34 have gone under and just two have pushed. This 2017-18 Capitals team is 21-20 SU on the road.
The Capitals’ offensive attack attempted 29.4 shots per game in the regular season, resulting in 3.2 goals per contest (ranked ninth overall in the NHL). In the playoffs, the team is up to an average of 44.0 shots on goal 3.5 goals per game.
Following a regular season where they scored on 23.3 percent of all power-play opportunities (the seventh-strongest), the Capitals have connected on 38.5 percent of their postseason power plays.
With a .907 save percentage and 27.3 saves per game, Braden Holtby (34-21-5) has been the primary option in goal for Washington this season. If it chooses to give him a rest, however, the team could roll with Philipp Grubauer (15-22-5 record, .919 save percentage, 2.47 goals against average).
Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov will both spearhead the attack for the visiting Capitals. Ovechkin has 89 points on 51 goals and 38 assists, and has recorded multiple points 24 times. Kuznetsov has 29 goals and 56 assists to his credit, and has logged at least one point in 51 games.
On the other side of the rink, Columbus is 47-37 straight up (SU) and has earned 2.8 units for moneyline bettors this season. 43 of its games have gone over the total, while 40 have gone under and just one has pushed. It’s 26-15 SU at home this season.
The Blue Jackets have converted on just 18.1 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that places them in the bottom 10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 27th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 75.2 percent of all penalties.
Blue Jackets players have been sent to the penalty box only 3.1 times per game in total this season, and 5.2 per game over their past five match ups. The team has had to kill penalties a whopping 14.2 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Sergei Bobrovsky (28.6 saves per game) has been the top choice in goal for the Blue Jackets. Bobrovsky has 39 wins, 28 losses, and six OT losses to his name and has maintained a 2.44 goals against average and a .921 save percentage this season.
The home team will be led on offense by Artemi Panarin (28 goals, 59 assists).
Washington Capitals at Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Predictions
NHL Tip: SU Winner – Blue Jackets, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
The total has gone over in each of Columbus’ last five outings.
The Blue Jackets have averaged the league’s fifth-most shots on goal (33.6) while the Capitals have attempted the 31st-most (just 33.6).
Six of Washington’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 5-1 in those games.
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