The Vancouver Canucks, spearheaded by Elias Pettersson and Bo Horvat, are preparing to take the ice against Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, and the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena in a cross-continent tilt. Sportsnet ONE will showcase the matchup, and the opening face-off is at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, February 5.
Vancouver Canucks at Washington Capitals Odds
This matchup’s moneyline and Over/Under odds have not been posted by oddsmakers yet.
Washington is 28-24 straight-up (SU) and has recorded -2.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. That winning percentage, the third-best in the Metropolitan Division so far this season, is a slide from what the team recorded during the 2017-18 season (49-33). Through 52 regular season outings, 27 of its games have gone over the total, while 22 have gone under and just three have pushed. This year, the team’s 14-13 SU at home.
The Capitals have converted on 21.4 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that’s good enough for 10th-best in the NHL. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 24th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 77.9 percent of all penalties.
Averaging 28.0 saves per game with a .907 save percentage, Braden Holtby (18-19-5) has been the primary option in goal for Washington this year. If head coach Todd Reirden decides to give him the night off, however, the team could turn to Pheonix Copley (11-8-8 record, .903 save percentage, 2.98 goals against average).
On the other side of the ice, Vancouver is 24-29 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 6.2 units this year. A total of 25 of its contests have gone under the total, while 23 have gone over and just four have pushed. The Canucks are 12-16 SU as an away team this season.
The Canucks have converted on 16.9 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 19th overall and it’s successfully defended 79.3 percent of all penalties.
Jacob Markstrom (.910 save percentage and 2.77 goals against average) has been the main option in goal for Vancouver. Markstrom is averaging 28.4 saves per game and has 20 wins, 19 losses, and five OT losses to his credit.
Vancouver Canucks at Washington Capitals Free Picks
Free NHL Pick: SU Winner – Capitals, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- Over Washington’s last ten outings, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 1-5 in those games).
- The extra-man advantage may play a critical role in tonight’s matchup. The Canucks are 7-13 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 15-18 in games where they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Capitals are 11-6 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 17-14 when they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
- Vancouver is 1-3 in games decided by a shootout this season while Washington is 3-1 in shootouts.
- For both of these teams, the total has gone over in four of their past five matchups.
- Vancouver skaters have averaged 8.0 giveaways over its last five home games, its season average of 7.3 giveaways per game (ranked fourth in the league).
- Washington is ranked 26th this season with 11.8 giveaways per game. That figure has regressed, as it’s averaged 12.7 giveaways over its last 10 games and 14.0 giveaways over its last five.
- The Capitals this season have registered the ninth-most hits in the NHL (23.4 per game), but the club has averaged 29.4 over their past five home outings.
