Penguins vs. Capitals Pick
NHL Betting action sees the Pittsburgh Penguins taking on the Washington Capitals on Wednesday February 25th at Verizon Center. Cappers Picks provides free NHL handicapping tips all season long.
NHL Predictions
Date/Time: Wednesday, Feb. 25 2015, 8 pm EST
Venue: Verizon Center, Washington DC
Broadcast: NBCSN
Pittsburgh EVEN, Washington -130
Over/Under: 5
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The Pens and Caps are scrapping in the Metropolitan division, separated by just a point from third and fourth place.
What Washington does might well be shaped by what happens in this game and over the next few days.
With 77 points, Pittsburgh currently has a tenuous grasp of third and the Penguins represent a team that could be looking to rent a winger at the deadline (as usual).
Washington superstar Alex Ovechkin has always been a streaky talent, but when the lightbulb is on, he’s arguably the best player in the world (Crosby fans are gnashing their teeth).
The light is on and burning brightly for O.V. right now.
Ovechkin is tied for Crosby in points (61), and is the most prolific goal-scorer in the league, with 38 on the campaign. Stud playmaking center Nicklas Backstrom actually leads the Caps in points with 64, but that’s because he’s setting up the “Great 8”.
As long as the enigmatic Russian stays hot, the Caps will be in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race.
For Pittsburgh’s part, success has been attained due to strong goaltending – Marc-Andre Fleury is having an impressive season – and sound special-teams play. The Penguins enjoy the seventh-ranked power play unit in the NHL and the fifth-ranked penalty kill.
Fleury having one of his best overall regular seasons in recent memory has a lot to do with it. Additionally, Pittsburgh features a prodigiously talented Russian in its own right, Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby is still game in, game out the best player in the NHL.
If Pittsburgh can improve its depth among the top-six forwards – hopefully achieved during the trade deadline, despite the rather slim pickings among the crop this year – the Pens could make a deep run in the East.
Ultimately, Wednesday night’s match-up in the nation’s capital should be must-see TV. These hockey clubs have a lively history against each other over the last decade and when some of the NHL’s brightest stars share the ice, it always draws interest.
Pittsburgh is coming off two nice wins in back-to-back games last weekend (4-2 over St. Louis; a 5-1 spanking of Florida) and I like the team’s cohesion of late. Also, never underestimate strong goaltending performance.
It must feel good for Fleury and his mustard-yellow pads to shut the critics up.
4* Free NHL Pick: Pittsburgh 3, Washington 1
I’m calling for the Penguins to grab a road victory and in the process, give themselves a little bit of breathing room for third place in the Metro division.
Take the UNDER
