The Washington Capitals, spearheaded by Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin, are set to take the ice against Cam Atkinson, Artemi Panarin, and the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena in a Metropolitan Division tilt. NBC Sports Washington will showcase the game, which gets underway at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 8.
Washington Capitals at Columbus Blue Jackets Odds
The Blue Jackets (-135) are tabbed as the favorites over the Capitals (+115), and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 7 goals (-110 over, -110 under).
Columbus is 16-12 straight-up (SU) and has recorded -0.5 units for moneyline bettors thus far. That winning percentage, ranked 1st in the Metropolitan Division in this young season, hasn’t moved much from the 45-37 record the team posted during last year’s regular season campaign. Of its 28 games this season, 12 have gone under the total, while 12 have gone over and just three have pushed. The team is 7-6 SU at home this season.
The Blue Jackets have converted on just 16.3 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that places them in the bottom-10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated 20th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 77.6 percent of all penalties.
Boasting a .901 save percentage and 26.8 saves per game, Sergei Bobrovsky (11-9) has been the primary option in goal for the Jackets this year. If Columbus chooses to rest him, however, head coach John Tortorella might turn to Joonas Korpisalo (5-5-5 record, .883 save percentage, 3.75 goals against average).
Washington has earned 0.8 units for moneyline bettors this season and is currently 16-12 straight up (SU). A total of 16 of its matches have gone over the total, while 10 have gone under the total and just two have pushed. The Capitals are 8-6 SU as the visiting team this season.
The Capitals have converted on 26.1 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s good enough for eighth-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 23rd overall and it’s successfully killed off 76.7 percent of all opponent power plays.
Braden Holtby (27.9 saves per game) has been the primary option in the net for Washington. Holtby owns a 10-10-3 record, and has registered a .907 save percentage and 3.00 goals against average this year.
Washington Capitals at Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Predictions
Pick: SU Winner \u2013 Blue Jackets, O/U \u2013 Under
Betting Notes
- For both of these teams, the game went over the total in three of their past five matchups.
- Seven of Washington’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 6-1 in those games.
- Washington skaters have given out the league’s 12th-most hits per game (22.2).
