Chicago Blackhawks vs. Washington Capitals Prediction, NHL Odds
Ovechkin potted the Capitals’ lone goal in Wednesday’s 5-1 loss to Carolina that marked the club’s fourth loss in five games, and has now found the back of the net in three straight outings and now needs just three more goals to eclipse Gretzky’s long standing NHL record. The Blackhawks closed out a five-game home stand with a 3-2 loss tp Colorado and have now fallen to defeat in 11 of 12 contests including five straight road losses.
The Capitals are set to hit the ice perched as lofty -425 favourites on the NHL odds and are also a short -155 bet on the NHL puck line. The Blackhawks trail as +320 underdogs and the total is pegged at 6.5.
Blackhawks vs. Capitals NHL Betting Odds
The Capitals have seen a dip in production since becoming the first team this season to clinch a berth in the NHL playoffs. Washington has averaged just 2.80 goals per game while losing four of their past five but maintain a comfortable nine-point lead over second-place Carolina in the Metropolitan Division standings with less than two weeks remaining in the campaign. The Caps also remain the highest scoring team in the NHL with 3.60 goals per game. Despite their recent production woes, the Capitals have produced results for sports bettors taking the OVER in totals betting, which has paid out in four straight games. However, these teams have failed to score more than six total goals in their past three meetings including Washington’s 4-1 home victory on March 9. While the Capitals sport the best record in the NHL, the Blackhawks are playing out the string on yet another lost season. Chicago has been lit up for five goals in three of its four recent losses and has surrendered an average of four goals per game during a five-game road slide.
Chicago Blackhawks
Long eliminated from playoff contention, the Blackhawks enter the homestretch in a pitched battle with San Jose for last place overall. The club squandered an early 2-0 lead in Wednesday’s 3-2 shootout loss to the Avalanche and have potted just two total goals after 40 minutes over the past eight games. Connor Bedard has failed to score during the club’s current losing streak but the budding superstar remains productive, tallying assists in three straight outings and seven points over the past eight games. Veteran forward Ilya Mikheyev has also been a steady contributor. The former Toronto Maple Leaf has generated a point per game over the past seven contests and tallied a goal and an assist in the Blackhawks’ 3-2 win over the Capitals in Chicago back on December 17.
Washington Capitals
All eyes will be on Alex Ovechkin as continues his pursuit of a record-breaking 895th goal. Ovechkin enters Friday with 892 goals after bulging the twine in each of the past three games and sports -135 odds to score at least once on the Friday NHL player props. Ovechkin is also a lucrative +2500 bet to set the new record with at least three goals on Friday, with -220 odds favouring the historic goal to come at even strength. The Capitals can use all the firepower they can get after scoring just once on 21 shots in Wednesday’s lopsided loss to the Hurricanes. Matters are further complicated by the uncertain status of goaltender Logan Thompson, who was forced to leave Tuesday’s game due to injury, leading the club to call up 29-year-old rookie Hunter Shepard from AHL Hershey. Dylan Strome continues to produce, scoring once and adding four helpers during a three-game point streak and has averaged a point per game in five appearances versus Chicago.
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