Overview
Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals (24-12-9) are heading to Pittsburgh to take on Crosby and the Penguins (27-11-7). This Metropolitan Division rivalry is always one of the most exciting matchups in the NHL, thanks to the superstars in Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby – but which team looks like they have the edge?
Let’s take a look at these NHL teams’ stats to find out!
Last Games Records
The Pens are coming off of a tough 4-5 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday, giving up two much-needed points at home. The major players all showed up on the scoresheet, with Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang, Bryan Rust, Jake Guentzel, and Evgeni Malkin all getting a point at some point in the game. It just wasn’t Tristan Jarry’s night as he stopped 34 of 38, finishing with an SV% of .895.
Washington, on the other hand, is coming off of a huge 5-0 shutout win over the Dallas Stars, snapping their two-game losing streak and giving the team some confidence going into this important road game. Vitek Vanecek stopped all 29 shots for shutout, while the forwards made sure to get the job done on the other end.
Niklas Backstrom had a goal and two assists, while Evgeny Kuznetzov and Connor McMichael both had two points. It was another quiet night for Alex Ovechkin, who has now gone scoreless in his last three games.
Matchup Information
- Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM EST
- On February 1st
- At PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Penguins at Capitals Betting Analysis
Caps Betting Analysis
The Capitals were looking like strong contenders for the Metropolitan Division earlier this year, but things have started to slow down for the team. Washington now sits at fourth in the division, just four points behind the Penguins for a top-three spot. If you couldn’t tell, a regulation win would be massive for the Capitals to bridge the gap over their longtime rivals.
Alex Ovechkin leads the team in scoring at 29 goals and 29 assists, currently sitting at fifth in the entire league for the most points. The great eight hasn’t scored a goal or an assist since his two-goal night in Ottawa, but 15 shots in three games suggest he’ll get back on the scoresheet soon.
Evgeny Kuznetzov has been excellent this season with 43 points in 42 games, filling in for the top line center role in the wake of Nicklas Backstrom’s injury earlier in the season. Backstrom has since returned, earning 12 points in the 12 games he’s played so far.
John Carlson has had a solid season so far from the blueline, generating 33 points of offense in 41 games.
Vitek Vanecek and Ilya Samsonov have been splitting the net for the majority of the season, with each having a solid year so far. Vanecek currently has a record of 10-6-5 with an SV% of .916, while Samsonov has gone 13-5-3 with an SV% of .903.
Penguins Betting Analysis
The Penguins’ story this season has been the inverse of the Capitals – a team once marred by countless injuries and struggling at the beginning of the season has since emerged as one of the top teams in the Metro.
Pittsburgh is 6-2-2 in their last 10, currently sitting at third in the division and only one point behind the New York Rangers with a game in hand. The Penguins will be looking for a big two points to leap over the Rags while making the Capitals’ climb back into contention even more difficult.
Jake Guentzel leads the team in scoring with 23 goals and 20 assists in 39 games, followed by veteran defenseman Kris Letang with 40 points in 41 games. Letang has been excellent this season, proving to his doubters that he still has plenty of gas in the tank despite his age.
Both Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin started the season with an injury, but both seem to have had no problem getting back into the swing of things. Crosby is third on the team in scoring with 38 points in 33 games, while Malkin is on a point per game pace with 12 points in 12 games.
Tristan Jarry has had a bit of a bounceback season so far despite his most recent game, with an overall record of 23-8-5 and an SV% of .925.
Team Updates
Washington is still missing T.J. Oshie, who is currently listed as day-to-day. Michal Kempny is out on Covi-19 protocol, while Nick Jensen and Anthony Mantha are both on the injured reserve.
Pittsburgh is currently missing forwards Jason Zucker and Teddy Blueger, taking a hit on their middle six forward core.
- The Caps are 15-1 against the spread when they are the underdog
- Washington is 15-6 against the spread on the road this year
- The Caps are 3-9 against the spread in their last 12 games
- Pittsburgh is 18-6 as favorites in their last 24 games played
- The Penguins are 8-3 at home in their last 11 games
- The Penguins are 1-6 against the spread against Washington when they have had the previous day off
Pittsburgh Penguins at Washington Capitals Betting Preview
This game is going to be a tricky one to predict and a must-watch once the puck drops.
Currently, the moneyline has the Pens favored at -155, while the Caps are underdogs at +135. Both teams have a ton on the line in this game, with the Capitals needing a regulation win to catch up to the Pens while Pittsburgh is looking to become second in the division.
Expect to see both teams giving it their all tonight in a close, one-score game.
Pens vs Caps Betting Prediction:
While both teams have plenty to play for going into tonight’s contest, the Capitals are in a more precarious position. Coming off of a 5-0 road win, Washington will likely carry some momentum to fuel their motivation for the win.
Pittsburgh is motivated to win as well, but with the team currently on a three-game home ice losing streak, they still have a few things that need to be worked out.
How to Bet on Penguins at Capitals
Again, this game could very easily go either way; making a bet on the moneyline a bit tricky – then again, that’s what makes sports betting fun!
Washington will likely be able to cover the spread regardless of the outcome at +1.5 at -170, which should be a slam dunk bet.
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