Evgeni Malkin, Bryan Rust, and the Pittsburgh Penguins will do battle against John Carlson, Alex Ovechkin, and the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena in a Metropolitan Division tilt. NBC will broadcast the action, which gets underway at 0:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 2.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Washington Capitals Odds
Washington is 35-17 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 7.8 units this year. That winning percentage, the NHL’s strongest so far in this young season, is an improvement compared to how the team performed during the 2018-19 season (48-34). Among its 52 games this season, 32 have gone over the total, while 18 have gone under and just one has pushed. The team is 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 ranked third overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 84.0 percent of all penalties.
With a .896 save percentage and 25.7 saves per game, Braden Holtby (20-15-4) has been the best goalkeeper for Washington this year. If Washington chooses to give him a breather, however, the team might roll with Ilya Samsonov (16-4-4 record, .925 save percentage, 2.12 goals against average).
On the visitors’ side of the rink, Pittsburgh is 32-19 straight up (SU) and has earned 7.3 units for moneyline bettors this season. Through 51 regular season matches, 25 of its games have gone under the total, while 24 have gone over and just one has pushed. The Penguins are 13-11 SU as the road team this season.
The Penguins have converted on 20.7 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 13th overall and it’s successfully killed off 81.8 percent of all opponent power plays.
Tristan Jarry (2.19 goals against average and .928 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Pittsburgh. Jarry is averaging 27.2 saves per game and has 17 wins, nine losses, and one overtime loss to his credit.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Washington Capitals Free Picks
NHL Pick: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- Seven of Washington’s last ten contests have been decided by two or more goals. The team is 6-1 overall in those games.
- Power plays and penalty kills may play a critical role in this matchup. The Penguins are 15-8 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 22-14 in games where they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Capitals are 11-7 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 18-8 when they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
- Pittsburgh is 3-0 in games decided by a shootout this season while Washington is 3-2 in shootouts.
- Pittsburgh skaters have averaged 8.6 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 9.4 giveaways per game (ranked 14th overall).
- Washington is ranked 23rd this season with 11.2 giveaways per game. That figure has trended higher, as the team’s averaged 13.8 giveaways over its last 10 games and 16.0 giveaways over its last five.
- This game features two of the more aggressive defenses in the league. Pittsburgh skaters have dished out the third-most hits in the league (28.5 per game) and the Capitals have handed the eighth-most (23.9).
