The Washington Capitals look to even the series up at T-Mobile Arena in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals. The match gets started at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, May 30, and it can be watched live on NBC Sports Network.
Washington Capitals vs. Vegas Golden Knights Odds
Washington (+135) is entering this one as the underdog to Vegas (-155) and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals (-120 to bet the over, +100 for the under).
Vegas is 64-34 straight up (SU) and has earned 26.6 units for moneyline bettors this year. Among its 98 games this season, 48 have gone over the total, while 46 have gone under and just four have pushed. The team’s 36-13 SU at home this season.
Following a regular season where they scored on 21.3 percent of all power-play chances (the 10th-strongest), the Golden Knights have connected on 19.2 percent of their extra-man advantages in the postseason.
The Golden Knights’ offensive attack attempted 32.6 shots per game in the regular season, resulting in 3.3 goals per contest (ranked fourth overall in the NHL). In the postseason, the team is attempting an average of 31.7 shots on goal 3.1 goals per game.
With a .931 save percentage and 28.7 saves per game, Marc-Andre Fleury (42-20-5) has been the best option in goal for Vegas this season. If head coach Gerard Gallant chooses to give him a breather, however, the team may go with Malcolm Subban (15-7-7 record, .910 save percentage, 2.68 goals against average).
The Knights will continue to rely on leadership from Jonathan Marchessault and William Karlsson. Marchessault (94 points) has put up 35 goals and 59 assists and has recorded multiple points in 28 different games this year. Karlsson has 50 goals and 42 assists to his name and has recorded at least one point in 61 contests.
Washington is 61-41 straight up (SU) and has earned 15.6 units for moneyline bettors this year. A total of 54 of its outings have gone over the total, while 43 have gone under and just five have pushed. The Capitals are 29-23 SU as the road team this season.
The Capitals have scored on 23.7 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that places it in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 16th overall and it’s successfully killed off 79.2 percent of all opponent power plays.
Washington’s players have been penalized 4.0 times per game this season, and 2.2 per game over their past five contests. The team’s had to kill penalties just 7.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Braden Holtby (2.78 goals against average and .910 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Washington. Holtby is averaging 27.0 saves per game and owns a 46-27-5 record.
Leading the offensive attack for the visiting Capitals will be Alex Ovechkin (61 goals, 49 assists) and Evgeny Kuznetsov (38 goals, 70 assists).
Washington Capitals at Vegas Golden Knights Free Picks
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Notes
Betting Notes
Over Vegas’ last ten outings, seven of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-2 in those games).
Power plays and penalty kills may prove to be critical in this one. The Capitals are 18-13 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 34-22 in games where they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 minutes, total. The Golden Knights are 25-12 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 49-20 when they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
Washington is 3-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Vegas is 4-3 in shootouts.
The total has gone under in three of Vegas’ last five games.
Vegas has averaged 12.6 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 9.5 giveaways per game (ranked 15th overall).
Washington is ranked 25th this season with 10.4 giveaways per game. That figure has trended down lately, however, as the team’s averaged 7.5 giveaways over its last 10 games and 7.4 giveaways over its last five.
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