Sens vs Caps NHL Line & Handicapping
Capital Battle – Senators Face Capitals Wednesday Night
Canada’s capital Ottawa meets the United States’ capital Washington during a busy night of NHL action Wednesday. Both teams have been underwhelming so far this year but hope to ramp up their play as winter sets in.
CLICK TO GRAB OUR BEST Expert NHL Picks for 2013 HOCKEY Betting!
Ottawa (9-11-1-3) at Washington (12-10-0-2)
When: 7:00 PM ET, Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Where: Verizon Center, Washington, District Of Columbia
Broadcast: TSN2, CSN-DC
Senators vs. Capitals Betting Lines from
Ottawa Senators +1½ -225 +123 Ov 5½ -110
Washington Capitals -1½ +195 -135 Un 5½ +100
[dfads params=’groups=63740&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
Check out our in-house NHL Handicapper!!! Buy Razor Ray’s NHL Picks Today!
Washington is currently mired in a three game winless streak while the Senators have gone just 5-5-0 in their last 10 games overall. Something HAS to give Wednesday night!
It is hard to believe that the Ottawa Senators reached the Eastern Conference semi finals last season – they are two games under .500 on home ice but have a 5-5-2 record on the road. The biggest difference this year has definitely been the defense and goaltending – something that this team excelled at last year.
*CLICK HERE* GRAB OUR BEST Expert NHL Hockey Picks for 2013 GAMBLING season!
Ottawa enters Wednesday night’s contest surrendering and average of .308 goals – not good. Goaltender Craig Anderson has been a major disappointment – he is 5-7-2 this season with a 3.31 GAA and .900 save percentage. In his last two starts Anderson has a 4.03 GAA and .830 save percentage – yuk! He is the reason Ottawa surprised the league last year and without stellar play of their #1 guy, the Sens are poised to struggle all season long.
The Ottawa offense has been OK – 2.83 goals per game is even better than that of the Caps at this point of the season. After failing to score in October, Senators forward Clarke MacArthur has six goals in 12 games this month and is plus-10 with 17 points in 23 games. Bobby Ryan’s 11 goals match his total of last season. Early Norris Trophy contender Erik Karlsson has points in all but three games in November and Mika Zibanejad has three points in two games. The offense is there for the Sens – the defense and goaltending just have to catch up!
The Washington Capitals have been feast or famine this year – they are in the midst of famine right now. They have scored just three goals during their current three game losing streak despite 50 shots Saturday against the Leafs. The team is capable of scoring goals, obviously. The Capitals have scored four goals or more in each of their seven regulation wins this year. Their other five victories have come in shootouts.
[ad-4437448]
Alex Ovechkin has 43 goals in his past 45 games dating back to the second half of last season while eleven of Nicklas Backstrom’s (24 points in 24 games) team-high 19 assists have come on Ovechkin goals – they have been lethal this season and carrying the Caps thus far. John Carlson has also been consistently good – six points in his last six games.
Like the Sens, the defense and goaltending will have to play a big part for the Caps in order for them to reach their lofty goals.
At present there seems to be little issue with that – Braden Holtby is 3-1-1 with a 2.31 goals-against average and .933 save percentage in his past five games.
Betting Prediction
A few trends to consider:
• Over is 20-5-1 in OTT last 26 Wed. games.
• WAS are 6-2 in their last 8 home games.
• Under is 41-18-11 in WAS last 70 vs. Atlantic.
• OTT are 2-11 in the last 13 meetings in Washington.
• Under is 9-2 in the last 11 meetings.
This is a battle of two struggling teams – for the Caps their struggles are on offense while the Sens are having issues keeping the puck out of their own net.
In a game of evenly matched teams, I like the better defense to prevail – therefore I am going with the home team in this one.
Ottawa’s record is just 2-11 in their last 13 meetings in Washington – I think the woes continue.
Pick: Washington Capitals -135
