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Charlie Grant
Capitals vs. Blue Jackets: Game 4 Prediction, NHL Playoff Odds
The Caps are outplaying the Blue Jackets despite trailing in the series and are short road underdogs at Columbus in Game 4.
Capitals vs Blue Jackets Stanley Cup Playoffs Betting Analysis
The Columbus Blue Jackets are up 2-1 in their first round playoff matchup against the Washington Capitals but have spent most of the series playing catch up. The Blue Jackets have held the lead for less than 18 minutes in the 227 minutes played in the overtime-filled battle with Washington.
Columbus scored just twice in Game 3 and played under the total for the first time in eight games. The Blue Jackets are still 15-5 straight up in their last 20 games but 1-3 in their last four home games.
The Capitals improved to 6-0 in their last six away matches and 7-3 in their last 10 games against the Blue Jackets. The over is 5-1 in their last six games overall as well.
Columbus is the favourite to win the series at -263 on the Sports Interaction NHL futures board, while the Capitals are playing +180 should they be able to come back from the 2-1 series deficit.
Washington Capitals
The decision to switch back to Braden Holtby in nets was a good one for Washington coach Barry Trotz. Holtby stopped 33 of the 35 shots in faced in their Game 3 matchup, including all of the last 17 shots the Blue Jackets pelted his way.
Holtby’s career playoff statistics (.932 save percentage and 1.98 goals against average) rank among the best active goalies in the NHL but he wasn’t picked as the starter entering the series because of a poor regular season. Trotz told the media Holtby won his job back and will be the Game 4 starter between the pipes for the Caps.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus is going to figure out how to do one of two things: Either improve its penalty kill or stop getting men sent to the box. Only five teams killed penalties at a worse rate than the Blue Jackets (76.2 percent) during the regular season. Washington has scored six power play goals on 17 man-advantage situations during the first three games.
