The Wells Fargo Center will be the site for an enticing tilt as the Washington Capitals come into town to face the Philadelphia Flyers. NBC Sports Network will broadcast this divisional matchup, and the puck drops at 7:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 6.
Washington Capitals vs. Philadelphia Flyers Odds
Washington (-130) is currently favored over Philadelphia (+110), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 7 goals (-120 for the under, +100 for the over).
Washington is 38-28 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 2.9 units this season. 34 of its games have gone over the total, while 29 have gone under and just three have pushed. This 2018-19 Capitals team is 19-14 SU on the road.
Washington has converted on 21.9 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 23rd overall, and the team’s successfully killed off 78.5 percent of its penalties.
Washington, as a collective unit, has been penalized 3.9 times per game overall during the 2018-19 season, and 3.2 per game over its last five road outings. The team has had to defend opponent power plays just 8.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 28.0 saves per game with a .909 save percentage, Braden Holtby (24-23-6) has been the primary option in goal for Washington this season. If Washington decides to rest him, however, the team could go with Pheonix Copley (15-8-3), who has a .901 save percentage and 3.06 goals against average this year.
Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom will both spearhead the attack for the visiting Capitals. Ovechkin (75 points) has tallied 45 goals and 30 assists, and has recorded multiple points 19 times. Backstrom has 15 goals and 46 assists to his nameand has registered at least one point in 40 games.
Over on the other bench, Philadelphia is 32-34 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.6 units for moneyline bettors this year. 35 of its contests have gone over the total, while 30 have gone under and just one has pushed. This season, the team’s 17-16 SU at home.
Philadelphia has converted on 17.7 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 27th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 77.5 percent of all opponent power plays.
The Flyers have been penalized 3.8 times per game this season, 3.6 per game over their last five match ups total, and 3.8 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s been forced to defend opponent power plays just 8.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Cam Talbot has stopped 25.7 shots per game as the primary choice in goal for Philadelphia. Talbot has 11 wins, 21 losses, and three OT losses to his name and has recorded a pedestrian 3.35 goals against average and a fairly-weak .894 save percentage this season.
The Flyers will be led on offense by Claude Giroux (19 goals, 51 assists).
Washington Capitals vs. Philadelphia Flyers Betting Predictions
Pick: SU Winner – Capitals, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- For both of these teams, the game went over the total in four of their last five outings.
- Washington has managed 30.0 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Philadelphia is averaging 39.0 shots per game over its last five at home.
- Extra-man opportunities could be even more key than usual tonight. The Capitals are 16-6 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 25-16 when they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 minutes, total. The Flyers are 14-12 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 22-18 when total penalty minutes are in the single digits.
- Philadelphia is 2-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Washington is 4-1 in shootouts.
- Philadelphia has managed 6.2 takeaways per game over its last five home games, a slight drop from its season average of 5.7 takeaways per game (ranked 29th).
- Washington has averaged 3.4 goals per game overall this season, but has upped it to 4.8 per contest over their four-game winning streak.
- Washington is ranked 12th with 8.0 takeaways per game. That figure has trended down recently, however, as the team has averaged 5.5 takeaways over its last 10 games and 5.6 takeaways over its last five.
