Capital One Arena is playing host to an enticing tilt as the Washington Capitals prepare to face the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning. The match gets started at 5 p.m. ET on Friday, November 29, and fans at home can catch this Eastern Conference matchup live on NBC Sports Washington.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Washington Capitals Odds
Moneyline odds have not yet been posted for this matchup.
The Capitals are 17-9 straight-up (SU) and have earned 4.4 units for moneyline bettors this year. That winning percentage, ranked third in the NHL in this young season, isn’t too far off from to the 48-34 record the team produced during the 2018-19 season campaign. Through 26 regular season contests, 17 of the team’s games have gone over the total, while nine have gone under and none have pushed. The team’s 7-6 SU at home this year.
Washington’s connected on 23.2 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s good enough for eighth-best in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is rated 11th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 83.7 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, Washington has been whistled for penalties 4.1 times per game overall this season, and 3.4 per game over its last five at home. The team has been forced to kill penalties for 9.8 minutes per game over its last five home outings.
Averaging 28.0 saves per game with a .909 save percentage, Braden Holtby (12-7-4) has been the primary option in goal for the Capitals this year. If the Caps choose to give him the night off, however, it might roll with Ilya Samsonov (5-3-3 record, .912 save percentage, 2.65 goals against average).
The Caps will continue to look for offensive production out of John Carlson and Alex Ovechkin. Carlson (36 points) has tallied eight goals and 28 assists and has recorded multiple points in 11 different games this year. Ovechkin has 16 goals and 10 assists to his credit and has notched at least one point in 16 games.
In the other locker room, Tampa Bay is 12-10 straight up (SU) and has lost 4.9 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. 14 of its outings have gone over the total, while eight have gone under the total and none have pushed. As the visiting team, Tampa Bay is 6-6 SU so far.
Tampa Bay has scored on 31.4 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s good enough for fourth-best in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 20th overall and it’s successfully defended 80.5 percent of all penalties.
Tampa Bay’s skaters have been penalized 4.4 times per game this season, 3.8 per game over their last five contests total, and 3.8 per game over their last five on the road. The team has had to kill penalties just 8.0 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Andrei Vasilevskiy (28.3 saves per game) has been the main option in goal for Tampa Bay. Vasilevskiy owns a 9-7 record, and has registered a .908 save percentage and 2.90 goals against average this year.
Nikita Kucherov (nine goals, 15 assists) has been one of the top playmakers on offense for the visiting Lightning.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Washington Capitals Free Picks
Prediction: SU Winner – Capitals, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- Washington (3-2 in shootouts this season) has more experience in games decided by shootout. Tampa Bay emerged victorious in its lone shootout this season.
- The total has gone under in three of Washington’s last five outings.
- Over Tampa Bay’s last ten games, seven of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-2 in those games).
- This game features two of the tougher teams in the league. Tampa Bay skaters have accounted for the eighth-most hits in the league (23.8 per game) and the Caps have recorded the eighth-most (23.5).
