Gila River Arena will be the site for an East-West matchup as the Arizona Coyotes welcome the visiting Washington Capitals. It’s the last time that the two clubs will go at it in the regular season. Fox Sports Arizona will broadcast the game, and the opening face-off is at 9 p.m. ET on Friday, December 22.
Washington Capitals at Arizona Coyotes Odds
Washington is 22-13 straight up (SU) and has netted 7.0 units for moneyline bettors this season. 20 of its games have gone over the total, while 15 have gone under and none have pushed. As the away team this season, the Caps are 8-8 SU.
Washington has converted on 20.2 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. Its penalty kill is ranked 23rd overall, and it has successfully killed off 79.0 percent of its penalties.
Washington, as a collective unit, has been whistled for penalties 4.5 times per game overall in the 2017-18 season, and 5.4 per game over its last five road outings. The teams had to defend opponent power plays 12.8 minutes per game over their last five road outings.
Averaging 28.4 saves per game with a .919 save percentage, Braden Holtby (20-7) has been the top option in goal for Washington this season. If Washington decides to rest him, however, head coach Barry Trotz could roll with Philipp Grubauer (2-9-1), who has a .899 save percentage and 3.01 goals against average this year.
The visiting Capitals have relied on Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov this year. Ovechkin (37 points) has tallied 23 goals and 14 assists, and has recorded two or more points nine times. Kuznetsov has 11 goals and 25 assists to his creditand has logged at least one point in 22 games.
Arizona is 7-29 straight up (SU) and has lost 20.2 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 36 regular season matches, 20 of its games have gone under the total, while 15 have gone over and just one has pushed. This season, the team is 3-12 SU at home.
Arizona has converted on just 15.2 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that places it in the bottom 5 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 13th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.9 percent of all opponent power plays.
Arizona players have been sent to the penalty box only 3.2 times per game in total this season, and 4.2 per game over their last five home outings. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 6.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Antti Raanta has stopped 25.8 shots per game as the primary netminder in goal for Arizona. Raanta has four wins, 13 losses, and two OT losses to his name and has maintained a .916 save percentage and 2.82 goals against average this year.
Clayton Keller (12 goals, 14 assists) will pace the offensive attack for the Coyotes.
Washington Capitals at Arizona Coyotes Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Coyotes, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- The under has hit in four of Arizona’s last five games.
- Washington has attempted 28.9 shots per contest overall this season (ranked 31st in the NHL), and 28.2 in its last 10 games.
- Extra-man opportunities could be even more key than usual in this one. The Capitals are 8-1 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 12-4 in games where they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 total minutes. The Coyotes are 4-15 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 5-22 in games where they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
- Arizona is 1-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Washington is 2-0 in shootouts.
- Arizona skaters have managed 3.2 takeaways per game over its last five home games, a drop-off from its season average of 5.2 takeaways per game (ranked 31st overall).
- Washington has averaged 3.2 goals per game overall this season, but is averaging 4.3 per match up over their four-game winning streak.
- Washington is ranked 18th in the NHL this season with 7.0 takeaways per game. That figure has trended higher, as it has forced 8.5 takeaways over its last 10 games and 8.2 takeaways over its last five.
- Washington may hold the upper hand if this one comes down to the wire. The teams an impressive 9-3 in games decided by one goal, while Arizona is only 5-11 in such games.
