Aleksander Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau, and the Florida Panthers will do battle against Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, and the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena in an Eastern Conference showdown. NBC Sports Washington will showcase the matchup, which gets going at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 9.
Florida Panthers vs. Washington Capitals Odds
The Capitals (-170) are solidly favored over the Panthers (+150) and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 7 goals (-105 for the over, -115 for the under).
Washington is 30-24 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.7 units for moneyline bettors thus far. That winning percentage, the third-best in the Metropolitan Division in this young season, is a regression from the 49-33 record that the team posted during last year’s regular season campaign. Of its 54 games this season, 28 have gone over the total, while 23 have gone under and just three have pushed. The team’s 16-13 SU at home this year.
The Capitals have converted on 21.1 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated 23rd overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 78.4 percent of all penalties.
With a .908 save percentage and 28.0 saves per game, Braden Holtby (19-19-5) has been the principal goalkeeper for the Caps this year. If head coach Todd Reirden chooses to rest him, however, the team may roll with Pheonix Copley (12-8-8 record, .904 save percentage, 2.97 goals against average).
In the other locker room, Florida is 22-30 straight up (SU) and has lost 13.6 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 52 regular season contests, 26 of its games have gone over the total, while 20 have gone under the total and just six have pushed. As a road team so far, the Panthers are 10-17 SU.
The Panthers enter the matchup with the second-best power-play unit in the NHL, as they’ve found the net on 27.1 percent of their extra-man opportunities this season. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 11th overall and it’s successfully killed off 81.5 percent of all opponent power plays.
James Reimer (23.8 saves per game) has been the primary option in the net for Florida. Reimer has 11 wins, 18 losses, and five OT losses to his credit, and has registered a .901 save percentage and 3.07 goals against average this year.
Florida Panthers at Washington Capitals Betting Predictions
Pick: SU Winner – Capitals, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- Over Washington’s last ten outings, five of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 0-5 in those games).
- The extra-man advantage could be critical tonight. The Panthers are 12-16 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 12-22 when they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Capitals are 12-6 when the team serves fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 18-14 in games where they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
- Washington is 3-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Florida is 2-4 in shootouts.
- Washington could hold an advantage if this one comes down to the wire. The team’s 13-10 in games decided by one goal, while Florida is 10-16 in such games.
- For both of these teams, the over has hit in three of their last five matchups.
- Florida is ranked 32nd this season with 14.9 giveaways per game. That figure’s trended higher, as the team’s averaged 18.8 giveaways over its last 10 games and 20.8 giveaways over its last five.
- Washington is ranked 25th this season with 12.0 giveaways per game. That figure has regressed, as it’s averaged 13.5 giveaways over its last 10 games and 16.2 giveaways over its last five.
- The Caps this season have recorded the ninth-most hits in the league (23.5 per game), but the club has averaged 30.6 over their last five home outings.
