A game that features two teams that’ve positioned themselves squarely in the playoff picture, the Washington Capitals and the Vegas Golden Knights face off at T-Mobile Arena. The match will get going at 10 p.m. ET on Tuesday, December 4, and you can catch this East-West matchup live on AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain.
Washington Capitals vs. Vegas Golden Knights Odds
Washington (+110) is currently the underdog to Vegas (-130), and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals. The line for betting that total stands at -130 for the under and +110 for the over.
Washington is 15-11 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 0.8 units this year. 14 of its games have gone over the total, while 10 have gone under and just two have pushed. This 2018-19 Capitals team is 7-5 SU on the road.
Washington has converted on 27.7 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s good enough for fifth-best in the NHL. Its penalty kill is ranked 24th overall, and it has successfully killed off 76.8 percent of all penalties.
Washington, as a collective unit, has been penalized 3.9 times per game overall in the 2018-19 season, and 3.0 per game over its last five on the road. The team’s had to kill penalties just 8.4 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Sporting a .910 save percentage and 28.2 saves per game, Braden Holtby (10-9-3) has been the top option in goal for Washington this year. If head coach Todd Reirden decides to rest him, however, the team may go with Pheonix Copley (6-3-1 record, .899 save percentage, 3.06 goals against average).
The visiting Capitals will be led by Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin. Backstrom has 33 points on 10 goals and 23 assists, and has recorded two or more points eight times. Ovechkin has 19 goals and 13 assists to his creditand has notched a point in 19 games.
On the other side of the rink, Vegas is 14-14 straight up (SU) and has lost 4.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. 16 of its matches have gone under the total, while 12 have gone over and none have pushed. It’s 7-4 SU at home this year.
Vegas has converted on 18.5 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked fourth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 84.1 percent of all penalties.
Vegas players have been penalized only 3.4 times per game this season, and 4.0 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s had to defend opponent power plays just 8.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Marc-Andre Fleury has stopped 24.5 shots per game as the primary selection in the crease for Vegas. Fleury has 14 wins, 10 losses, and one overtime loss to his name and has registered a 2.38 goals against average and a .913 save percentage this year.
Jonathan Marchessault (10 goals, 11 assists) and William Karlsson (nine goals, 12 assists) will pace the attack for the Knights.
Washington Capitals at Vegas Golden Knights Free Picks
Pick: SU Winner \u2013 Golden Knights, O/U \u2013 Under
Betting Notes
- Both teams are 1-1 in games decided by shootout.
- For both of these clubs, the over has hit in three of their last five outings.
- Seven of Washington’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 6-1 in those games.
- The Knights this season have registered the third-most hits per game in the NHL (27.7).
