Two squads that have put themselves squarely in the playoff picture, the Washington Capitals and the Boston Bruins face off at TD Garden. The match gets underway at 7 p.m. ET on Monday, December 23, and you can catch this Eastern Conference matchup live on New England Sports Network.
Washington Capitals at Boston Bruins Odds
Washington is 26-11 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 9.6 units this season. 23 of its contests have gone over the total, while 14 have gone under and none have pushed. This 2019-20 Capitals team is 16-4 SU on the road.
Washington has converted on 21.8 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s good enough for ninth-best in the league. On the other hand, it has the second-strongest penalty kill in the league, and it has successfully killed off a whopping 85.7 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, Washington has been penalized 4.3 times per game overall this season, and 5.6 per game over its past five outings. The team’s been forced to kill penalties 13.6 minutes per game over their last five road outings.
With a .911 save percentage and 27.5 saves per game, Braden Holtby (17-9-4) has been the primary option in goal for Washington this year. If Washington chooses to rest him, however, they could go with Ilya Samsonov (9-3-1 record, .916 save percentage, 2.43 goals against average).
The visiting Capitals will be led by John Carlson and Alex Ovechkin. Carlson has 47 points via 13 goals and 34 assists, and has recorded multiple points in 15 different games. Ovechkin has 22 goals and 13 assists to his credit (and has registered at least one point in 21 games).
Boston is 21-16 straight up (SU) and has lost 4.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. 17 of its contests have gone over the total, while another 17 have gone under and just three have pushed. This season, the team’s 12-9 SU at home.
Boston has converted on 26.1 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s good enough for fourth-best in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked eighth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 83.5 percent of all opponent power plays.
Boston players have been whistled for penalties 3.6 times per game this season, and 2.2 per game over their last five home outings. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 6.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Tuukka Rask (27.5 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for Boston. Rask has 13 wins, nine losses, and five OT losses to his credit and has registered a .922 save percentage and 2.29 goals against average this year.
David Pastrnak (28 goals, 23 assists) and Brad Marchand (18 goals, 33 assists) will lead the offensive counter for the Bruins.
Washington Capitals vs. Boston Bruins Free Picks
Pick: SU Winner – Bruins, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- Washington is 3-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while Boston is 0-5 in shootouts.
- Boston has allowed 2.6 goals per game overall this year, but has given up 3.7 goals per contest in its last three contests (the team is 0-3 SU over that stretch).
- Over Washington’s last ten games, eight of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 6-2 in those games).
- This game features two of the more aggressive defenses in the league. Washington skaters have accounted for the league’s ninth-most hits per game (23.7) and the Bruins have handed the seventh-most (24.3).
