Bryan Rust, Evgeni Malkin, and the Pittsburgh Penguins will do battle against John Carlson, Alex Ovechkin, and the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena for a Metropolitan Division showdown. NBC will broadcast the matchup, and the opening face-off is at 0:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 2.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Washington Capitals Odds
Washington is 35-17 straight up (SU) and has earned 7.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. That winning percentage, the NHL’s strongest so far this season, is an improvement compared to what the team managed during the 2018-19 season (48-34). Of the team’s 52 games this season, 32 have gone over the total, while 18 have gone under and just one has pushed. The team’s 15-10 SU at home this season.
The Capitals have converted on 20.5 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated third overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 84.0 percent of all penalties.
Averaging 25.7 saves per game with a .896 save percentage, Braden Holtby (20-15-4) has been the best option in goal for the Caps this year. If the Caps, however, decide to give him the day off, head coach Todd Reirden could turn to Ilya Samsonov (16-4-4 record, .925 save percentage, 2.12 goals against average).
On the other bench, Pittsburgh is 32-19 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 7.3 units this season. A total of 25 of its contests have gone under the total, while 24 have gone over and just one has pushed. The Penguins are 13-11 SU as the visiting team this season.
The Penguins have converted on 20.7 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 13th overall and it’s successfully killed off 81.8 percent of all penalties.
Tristan Jarry (.928 save percentage and 2.19 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for Pittsburgh. Jarry is averaging 27.2 saves per game and owns a 17-9-1 record.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Washington Capitals Free Picks
Prediction: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
The Capitals are 3-2 in games decided by shootout. The Penguins are 3-0 in shootouts.
This game features two clubs that take a heavy amount of shots on goal. Pittsburgh has registered the league’s 10th-most shots on goal (32.2) and Washington has attempted the 10th-most (32.3).
Over Pittsburgh’s last ten games, four of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 1-3 in those games).
This game features two of the more aggressive defenses in the league. Pittsburgh skaters have accounted for the league’s third-most hits per game (28.5) while the Capitals have tallied the eighth-most (23.9).
