Gustav Nyquist, Pierre-Luc Dubois, and the Columbus Blue Jackets are set to do battle against John Carlson, Alex Ovechkin, and the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena for a Metropolitan Division tilt. The game will get underway at 7 p.m. ET on Monday, December 9 and it can be seen live on NBC Sports Washington.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Washington Capitals Odds
The Capitals (-230) are tabbed as the big favorites over the Blue Jackets (+190) and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at an even 6 goals (-115 over, -105 under).
Washington is 22-9 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 9.4 units this year. That winning percentage, ranked first in the league in this young season, is an improvement over the 48-34 record from last year’s regular season campaign. Of the team’s 31 games this season, 20 have gone over the total, while 11 have gone under and none have pushed. The team’s 8-6 SU at home this year.
The Capitals have been able to convert on 24.5 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that’s good enough for sixth-best in the league. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated 11th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 84.0 percent of all penalties.
With a .910 save percentage and 27.7 saves per game, Braden Holtby (15-7-4) has been the primary goalkeeper for the Caps this year. If head coach Todd Reirden decides to give him a breather, however, Washington might turn to Ilya Samsonov (7-3-3 record, .917 save percentage, 2.42 goals against average).
On the visitors’ side of the rink, Columbus is 11-18 straight up (SU) and has lost 6.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 29 regular season contests, 17 of its games have gone under the total, while 11 have gone over and just one has pushed. As the road team, the Blue Jackets are 3-9 SU so far.
The Blue Jackets have converted on 19.1 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 20th overall and it’s successfully defended 79.3 percent of all penalties.
Joonas Korpisalo (25.0 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for Columbus. Korpisalo owns an 11-11-1 record, and has registered a .900 save percentage and 2.85 goals against average this year.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Washington Capitals Free Picks
Free Pick: SU Winner – Capitals, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Two of the Capitals’ last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 3-2 overall in shootouts this year.
- For both of these teams, the game went over the total in three of their past five matchups.
- Over Washington’s last ten outings, five of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 4-1 in those games).
- The Caps this season have registered the ninth-most hits per game in the NHL (23.7), but that number has risen to 29.2 over their last five games as the home team.
