Washington Capitals at Vegas Golden Knights Betting Preview
On Wednesday night, the Washington Capitals (43-23-10) will travel to T-Mobile Arena to take on the Vegas Golden Knights (41-31-5).
The Capitals are on the backend of a five-game road trip which ends Friday in Arizona. Washington has already clinched a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference but has plenty to play for down the stretch. All eight playoff berths are spoken for in the Eastern Conference, but seeding has yet to be decided.
The Golden Knights are trying to salvage their final home-stand of the season while breaking a two-game losing streak. Vegas is fighting for a playoff berth, so every game might be a must-win for the Golden Knights. Vegas sits four points behind the second wildcard spot in the Western Conference and five points behind the Los Angeles Kings for third place in the Pacific Division.
Vegas is listed at -130 over Washington.
Capitals Look to Avoid Letdown After Big Win over Avalanche
The Washington Capitals currently occupy the second and final wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference. However, the Capitals still have a chance to improve its seedings before the playoffs begin.
So far, the Capitals have navigated the home stretch of the season well, coming into Wednesday’s contest in Vegas, having won two in a row and seven of the last ten games. In its most recent outing, Washington downed the NHL points leader, the Colorado Avalanche, Monday on the road, 3-2.
Washington’s 3.39 GF/G is the eighth-best in the NHL, led by the Capitals’ top-three goal-scorers, Alex Ovechkin (48), Tom Wilson (24), and Evgeny Kuznetsov (23). Ovechkin’s 48 goals are fourth in the NHL.
Along the blue-line, John Carlson has a team-high 53 assists and is third on the team in points with 68. Meanwhile, Dmitry Orlov has 34 points but has been out since April 12 with a lower-body injury.
Between the pipes, Ilya Samsonov and Vitek Vanecek have made 36 starts apiece this season for the Capitals. Samsonov has gone 23-10-4, with a .989 SV% and a 2.97 GAA. Vanecek is 19-11-5 with a .909 SV% and a 2.67 GAA this season.
Vegas Hoping to Keep Playoff Hopes Alive
The Vegas Golden Knights’ playoff hopes are hanging on by a thread, needing points desperately to clinch a postseason spot.
In fourth place in the Pacific Division, the Golden Knights remain alive for both a wildcard spot and the third-place position in the Pacific, but time is running out. After opening April with five straight wins, Vegas has struggled, losing two in a row, including a 3-2 loss to the lowly Devils.
Vegas has a good, well-rounded offense that includes 11 double-digit scorers.
Jonathan Marchessault leads the team with 29 goals, followed by Evgenii Dadonov (19), Chandler Stephenson (18), Reilly Smith (16), Max Pacioretty (16), Nicolas Roy (14), William Karlsson (11), and Michael Amadio (11). Defensemen Shea Theodore (13) and Alex Pietrangelo (13) have also surpassed the double-digit goal mark.
If the Golden Knights qualify for the postseason, the addition of Jacke Eichel may be a secret weapon. Eichel has 12 goals in 29 games and seems to be heating up in his return from surgery.
Defensively, the Golden Knights allow 2.96 GA/G, 16th in the NHL.
Robin Lehner has led the way in goal for Vegas, starting 42 games, going 23-17-2 with a .907 SV% and a 2.83 GAA.
Betting Prediction
The Vegas Golden Knights enter Wednesday coming off a home loss to the New Jersey Devils. Though Vegas has played well as of late at home, the Golden Knights are 5-2-0 in its last seven home games.
The Washington Capitals enter Wednesday night with the best road record in the NHL, at 24-8-5. The Capitals have also won eight road games in a row.
However, after a high-energy effort against the Avalanche and nearing the end of a five-game road trip, the Capitals may not be a hundred percent on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Golden Knights will be playing desperate hockey, and desperate teams are always dangerous, especially at home.
Vegas at -130 is the pick to play for this one.
