Pittsburgh Penguins at Washington Capitals odds, picks and prediction
The Pittsburgh Penguins (32-15-3) begin a two-game road set against the rival Washington Capitals (32-13-4) Thursday at Capital One Arena. Puck drop will be shortly after 7 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Penguins-Capitals odds and lines, with NHL picks and predictions.
The Penguins took a 3-1 loss against the Boston Bruins Tuesday to snap a four-game winning streak. They're second in the East Division and just one point back of the Capitals. Washington swept a three-game series against the New York Islanders from Thursday to Tuesday.
Pittsburgh leads the head-to-head season 4-2 but three of those victories were decided beyond regulation. Washington won 5-2 on home ice Feb. 25 in the most recent meeting.
Penguins at Capitals: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access Paste BN Sports' betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:45 a.m. ET.
- Money line : Penguins -105 (bet $105 to win $100) | Capitals -110 (bet $110 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS : Penguins +1.5 (-275) | Capitals -1.5 (+220)
- Over/Under : 5.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Penguins at Capitals: Projected starting goalies
Tristan Jarry (21-9-3, .911 SV%, 2.71 GAA) vs. Ilya Samsonov (13-3-1, .903 SV%, 2.67 GAA)
Jarry will get the start on his 26th birthday coming off the loss to the Bruins in which he stopped 28 of 31 shots.
It snapped a personal four-game winning streak. He has played 4 games against the Caps this season and is 2-2 with a .914 save percentage and 2.77 goals against average.
Samsonov, 24, is riding a four-game winning streak which includes a 26-save shutout of the Islanders April 22.
He stopped 21 of 24 shots his last time out. He has struggled to a .895 SV% and 3.10 GAA through 7 starts in April; he took an overtime loss while stopping 24 of 27 shots against the Pens Jan. 17.
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Penguins at Capitals: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Capitals 3, Penguins 2
Money line (ML)
The higher-seeded CAPITALS (-110) can be backed as short home underdogs. They trail the season series against the Pens, but both of their victories were by multi-goal margins, whereas Pittsburgh has two overtime victories and a shootout win.
Capitals LW Alex Ovechkin (lower body) is questionable to play Thursday after missing the last two games, but Washington was victorious without him. Penguins C Evgeni Malkin (lower body) remains on injured reserve.
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Against the spread (ATS)
PASS on the puck line in what should be a tight, 1-goal game.
Pittsburgh has a slight edge in both total shot attempts and scoring chances in full-strength play since April 1. Goaltending will be the key in the playoff-like game; the edge goes to Samsonov and his .921 SV% and 2.03 GAA on home ice this season.
Over/Under (O/U)
UNDER 5.5 (-105) is the strongest play Thursday, due to the aforementioned playoff implications on the line.
The potential absence of two future Hall of Famers in Malkin and Ovechkin makes life easier for any goaltender.
The Penguins were also held to just a single goal in each of their two most recent games against the B's.
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