The Washington Capitals are on an ugly season-high five-game losing streak, with the latest setback coming in the form of an 8-5 loss to the lowly Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday. Alex Ovechkin and company will look to right the ship tonight against the San Jose Sharks. Sportsbooks opened the Sharks as +115 road underdogs with a total of 5.5.
- The Sharks are 2-7 SU and ATS in their last nine games on the road vs teams with winning records.
- The Sharks are 12-2 SU in their last 14 games on the road vs the Capitals.
- The total has gone UNDER in three of the Sharks’ last four games vs the Capitals (avg. combined score: 4.0).
Sharks vs Capitals Game Center
Capitals’ defense has sprung a leak
Scoring hasn’t been an issue, as Washington managed a total of four goals in each of its first four losses before falling to the Blackhawks. All five of the Capitals’ goals vs Chicago came from defensemen. This is the Capitals’ longest slide since they lost five straight from October 26-November 4, 2014.
San Jose is also struggling right now after getting outscored 18-8 while losing the first three contests of its four-game road trip after beginning the month with seven consecutive victories. The Sharks, who are coming off a 6-2 drubbing at the hands of the Florida Panthers on Monday, will be without the services of star defenseman Erik Karlsson for a third straight game as he deals with a lower-body injury.
Sharks have dominated Caps in D.C.
The Sharks have notoriously fared well in the nation’s capital, evidenced by San Jose going 12-2 SU in its past 14 trips to Capital One Arena. Take that trend with a grain of salt, however, as the Sharks are 2-7 SU and on the puckline in their last nine road games against teams with winning records.
When it comes to the total, an UNDER could be in store in this one. Three of the previous four meetings between the clubs have gone UNDER the total with an average combined score of four goals.
My pick: take the Sharks on the road
The Sharks’ past success in Washington is certainly something to keep an eye on in this one. Washington is a hard team to trust right now, and while San Jose is not playing its best hockey either, I think the Sharks are the better moneyline bet at the +115 price. Both of these teams are talented and will snap out of their funks sooner rather than later, but I can foresee a sixth straight loss in the forecast for the reigning Stanley Cup champions.
