The Washington Capitals may not be able to win the Stanley Cup in the second round but a series victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins may be just as sweet. The Capitals are tied at 2-2 vs Penguins and host a pivotal Game 5 at home tonight. The Caps have been eliminated in the postseason in the last two years by the Pens and each team has split two games on their home-ice. The Capitals opened as slight favorites to take an edge in the series.
- The total has gone UNDER in the Penguins' last five games on the road vs the Capitals.
- The Penguins are 14-6 SU in their last 20 games with one day off between games.
- The Capitals are 6-2 SU in their last eight games.
The Caps stunned the Penguins in Game 3 but were shut down in Game 4 by being limited to only 21 shots with Alex Ovechkin being held without a shot on goal for the first time in the playoffs since 2012. While Ovi has eight goals this postseason, he has gotten almost no help from anyone else on the Caps roster outside of Evgeni Kuznetsov (five goals). If bettors are planning to back the Capitals tonight, they should know that Washington is 7-1 SU and 6-2 against the puckline in their last eight games with one day off between games.
As for the Penguins, scoring hasn’t seemed to be an issue on the road as they average 4.4 goals per away game and Jake Guentzel is having an insane postseason. Sidney Crosby’s winger has 10 goals and 21 points and has combined with Sid The Kid for 40 points in the playoffs. As a result, the Penguins are 4-1 SU in road playoff games and have outscored their competition 25-12 in those contests. Although the Penguins may not be favored, backers of Pittsburgh won’t mind as the underdog is 3-1 SU in their last four games in this matchup.
On the goaltending side, Caps netminder Braden Holtby has had the edge over the Penguins’ Matt Murray, with Holtby owning a .924 save percentage to Murray’s .909. Totals bettors shouldn’t expect a shootout when these two teams face each other as the UNDER has hit in seven of the last nine games in this matchup with an average combined score of 5.2 goals per game.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
The Pittsburgh Penguins were listed as 100 underdogs on the NHL hockey moneyline earlier at Sportsbook. The over under total was set at 5.5 before betting started earlier on Saturday at Sportsbook.
Odds Shark computer prediction handicapping models run on this game pick a 3-2.3 victory for the Capitals. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NHL matchups here.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs Washington Capitals Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
Supporters of the Pittsburgh Penguins have seen them go 53-33-6 so far this season, while the Capitals are at 55-28-9. In totals betting, the Washington Capitals are 51-39-2, while the Penguins are 50-37-5. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Washington vs Pittsburgh injuries news.
According to new NHL Power Rankings here at Odds Shark, it's the No. 7-ranked Washington Capitals and the No. 5-rated Pittsburgh Penguins in this matchup.
Statistical Matchup
Offensively, the game matches up the Washington Capitals No. 9-ranked offense (3.2 goals per game) against a Pittsburgh Penguins defense that ranks No. 16 at 3 goals per game allowed. The Capitals Sportsbook has clicked at a 23.84% rate while the Penguins have a 80.47% rate on the penalty kill.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
- Pittsburgh is 8-4 ATS in its last 12 games
- Pittsburgh is 8-4 SU in its last 12 games
- Pittsburgh is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
- Pittsburgh is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games on the road
- Washington is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games
- Washington is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games at home
- Washington is 10-5 SU in its last 15 games at home
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of Washington's last 7 games at home
Next Betting Matchups
Pittsburgh home to Washington, Monday, May 7th
