A Stanley Cup final rematch between the Washington Capitals and Vegas Golden Knights will be on center ice at Capital One Arena tonight. The Caps are fresh off a 7-6 loss to the Penguins and will return home where they notched seven goals in the Sportsbook game of the season. They’ll face a Knights squad that has sputtered out of the gate by losing two of its first three games. The Capitals opened as -160 favorites with a total of 5.5.
- Washington is 4-1 SU and ATS in its last 5 games at home.
- Marc-Andre Fleury owns a 3.92 GAA this season.
- The OVER has hit in 4 of the last 6 games in this matchup.
Golden Knights vs Capitals Game Center
Capitals Picking Up Right Where They Left Off
Washington may have a difficult time repeating as the Stanley Cup Sportsbook but don’t tell its offense that early in the season. The Caps have scored 13 goals in their first two games and are one of four teams in the league to be at a 50 percent clip for its power-play chances (4-for-8).
The Capitals have shown over the years that they can score with any team in the league but defensively they still have some holes. In their last game vs Pittsburgh, they scored three goals in the first period but couldn’t keep the Penguins off the scoresheet as each time it looked like the Caps had taken the lead for good, the Pens immediately answered back. It could be just a case of an old nemesis knowing your weak points but it’s troubling for Capitals backers thinking they’ve got a win in the bag when Washington takes the lead.
Goaltender Braden Holtby has looked up and down through two games as he stopped all 25 shots to come his way vs Boston but the Caps allowed 41 shots vs the Pens, which is likely why he allowed seven goals in the loss. Holtby was excellent in the Stanley Cup final vs the Knights and with the Caps going 4-1 SU and ATS in their last five at home (including playoffs), the Washington -1.5 puckline looks tempting.
Fleury and Vegas Stumbling Out Of The Gate
It’s early so no need to hit the panic button but the Knights offense has been subpar through three games of the season. Vegas has managed six goals through three games with William Karlsson, Paul Stastny and Reilly Smith being held off the scoreboard thus far. For three players who combined for 77 goals last season, something will need to change if Vegas wants to remain competitive in a tough Western Conference.
This is the third road game for the Knights this year and they were one of 10 NHL teams to have a winning record in away games last season. They’ll need goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury to step up and close the door on the Caps’ high-powered offense but in the Stanley Cup final, he allowed 20 goals in five games and looked to be overworked as the Caps outshot and outhit the Knights during the entire series. In three games this season, Fleury owns a 3.92 goals-against average with a .841 save percentage so unless Fleury and the Knights defense can shut down the Caps, it could be another loss for the plucky Knights.
OVER Bettors Cashing in on Capitals Games
The total opened at 5.5 in this matchup and the OVER looks to be the smart play. Washington’s offense has looked unstoppable through two games and the OVER has hit in the Caps’ last four contests (including playoffs) with an average combined score of 8.75 goals per game. Fleury just hasn’t looked right yet this season and his save percentage makes me believe another shootout is coming at Capital One Arena.
My Pick Is…
To take OVER 5.5 goals. I think the Capitals are still on a victory lap from their Stanley Cup run and their offense looks incredibly explosive. That being said, after giving up seven goals to the Penguins, it doesn’t look like their defense is in championship form so I expect Vegas to bust out and make Washington earn the victory.
