Washington Capitals at Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Preview
Opening Moneyline: Capitals +120 / Penguins -140 O/U 6.5 goals
Time: 7:30 PM EST Thursday January 21, 2010
Tonight the hot Washington Capitals host the Pittsburgh Penguins. Washington has won 4 in a row, are 7-3 in their last 10 games, and they are running away with the Southeast Division with a 17 point lead over the 2nd place Atlanta Thrashers. Pittsburgh is coming off a win, is 5-5 in their last 10 games, and is in 2nd place in the tough Atlantic Division 4 points back of the New Jersey Devils.
This season the Penguins are 15-8-1 at home and the Capitals are 14-9-3 on the road.
In their last games the Capitals beat the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 on Tuesday night and the Penguins beat the New York Islanders 6-4 also on Tuesday night.
This is the first match up of these 2 teams since the Penguins crushed the Capitals in game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals last season.
This game may see a lot of offense, as the Capitals are the highest scoring team in the league (3.69 goals per game) and the Penguins rank 5th in scoring (3.08 goals per game (3.08). Each team's defense is giving up an average of 2.8 goals per game.
How each team plays on the power play will be huge in this game. The Penguins have one of the worst power play units in the league this season (16%), while the Capitals are the best (25.1%). Pittsburgh is 21-2-0 when they score with the man advantage and Washington is 22-7-3.
Pittsburgh G Marc-Andre Fleury (41-25 2.60 GAA save percentage 90.8%) may miss this game with a broken finger and if he can't go backup Brent Johnson (13-6) 2.62 GAA save percentage 91.5%) will get the start.
Whoever starts in goal for the Penguins will be tested by a great Capitals' offense, especially Alex Ovechkin, who ranks 2nd in the league in points (65), 3rd in goals (30). And 1st in +/- (27).
After a rough couple of weeks the Penguins are starting to play well again. Superstar Sidney Crosby ranks 4th in the league in points (63) and 2nd in goals (32). Fellow star Evgeni Malkin has really struggled as of late, but in Pittsburgh's win over the New York Islanders in their last game he had a hat trick and that may have snapped his scoring slump.
Caps' G Jose Theodore (27-14 2.85 GAA save percentage 90.6%) has been playing well as of late and in his last game he stopped a season high 44 shots in a 3-2 win.
Washington is 6-1 in their last 7 games against teams in the Eastern Conference, have an Over record of 6-1-1 in their last 8 games, and have an Over record of 12-3-1 in their last 16 games against teams in the Eastern Conference. Pittsburgh is 1-4 in their last 5 home games against teams with a winning road record, have an Over record of 5-0 in their last 5 games, and have an Over record of 4-1 in their last 5 games against teams in the Eastern Conference.
Our Selection : Washington will have a little score to settle with the Penguins after losing in game 7 in the Eastern Conference finals. Washington has won 4 in a row and 7 of 8. Pittsburgh will be without their number 1 goalie. Take Washington +120
Future Betting Odds
NHL Handicapping
Tampa Bay Lightning at Boston Bruins 5-17
The Boston Bruins need to play much better in game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Bruins lost the opener 5-2 at home and can ill-afford to fall behind 2-0 to Lightning. Tampa Bay are on quite a roll, winning their last eight in a row in the playoffs. The oddsmaker at Bodog have the Bruins as a -145 favorite to even-up the series.