The Detroit Red Wings, led by Dylan Larkin and Gustav Nyquist, are ready to take the ice against Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, and the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena in an Eastern Conference tilt. This one gets started at 7:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, December 11 and it can be viewed live on NBC Sports Network.
Detroit Red Wings vs. Washington Capitals Odds
The Capitals (-255) are tabbed as the favorites over the Red Wings (+215), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at an even 6 goals (-120 for the over, +100 for the under).
Washington is 17-12 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 2.0 units this year. That win percentage, ranked first in the Metropolitan Division so far this season, isn’t too far off from to what the team managed during the 2017-18 season (49-33). Of the team’s 29 games this season, 16 have gone over the total, while 11 have gone under and just two have pushed. The team is 8-6 SU at home this season.
The Capitals have connected on 25.3 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that’s good enough for eighth-best in the league. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated 21st overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 77.6 percent of all penalties.
Sporting a .911 save percentage and 28.0 saves per game, Braden Holtby (11-10-3) has been the most dependable option in goal for Washington this season. If Washington decides to rest him, however, the team might turn to Pheonix Copley (7-3-3 record, .902 save percentage, 2.95 goals against average).
In the other locker room, Detroit is 14-17 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 2.3 units this season. A total of 15 of its games have gone over the total, while 14 have gone under the total and just one has pushed. The Red Wings are 6-7 SU as the away team this season.
The Red Wings have converted on 17.9 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 15th overall and it’s successfully killed off 79.4 percent of all opponent power plays.
Jimmy Howard (31.0 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for Detroit. Howard has 10 wins, 11 losses, and four OT losses to his credit, while registering a .923 save percentage and 2.68 goals against average this year.
Detroit Red Wings at Washington Capitals Free Picks
Free Pick: SU Winner \u2013 Capitals, O/U \u2013 Over
Betting Notes
- A majority (70.6 percent) of Washington’s wins have been by two or more goals, and the team’s 12-7 overall in games decided by at least two scores. 5 of Detroit’s 14 wins (35.7 percent) have been decided by two or more goals.
- The Capitals are 8-5 SU in games where they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Red Wings are 10-8 SU when they serve more minutes than the opposition.
- Two of Detroit’s last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 0-2 in those games and 2-3 overall in shootouts this season.
- For both of these teams, the over has hit in four of their past five games.
- Detroit skaters have averaged 9.8 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 14.1 giveaways per game (ranked 31st).
- Washington skaters have averaged 9.8 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 10.6 giveaways per game (ranked 19th).
