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Charlie Grant
Capitals vs. Blue Jackets: Game 5 Prediction, NHL Playoff Odds
Will Tortorella be proved right or will the Caps finish the series off on the road in Game 6?
Capitals vs Blue Jackets Stanley Cup Playoffs Betting Analysis
The Capitals are 7-0 straight up in their last seven away games including the two games at Columbus in this series. The Game 5 victory bumps Washington’s record to 15-5 SU in its last 20 games overall. The Caps are also now 6-3 against the Blue Jackets this season and 6-1 with Braden Holtby as their starting goalie.
The Blue Jackets have dropped three straight games despite outshooting the Caps 42-29 in Game 5. The over is 18-7 in their last 25 games overall and they’ve allowed at least three goals in all games this series.
The underdog on the puckline is 5-0 in the series and four of the five games have gone to extra time.
Around 57 percent of Sports Interaction bettors are backing the Blue Jackets to win at home in Game 6 while 62 percent see the game going over the 5.5-goal total.
Washington Capitals
The switch to Braden Holtby in the nets may have been the turning point in the series. The Capitals haven’t lost a game since Barry Trotz went back to his former No. 1 starting goalie. He carries a 2.41 goals against average and a .919 save percentage this postseason into Game 6.
Centre Nicklas Backstrom was the Game 5 hero with two goals – including the overtime winner in their game 3 matchup– and one assist. He’s second on the club behind defenceman John Carlson in playoff points with eight in five games.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus’ trio of top forwards – Artemi Panarin, Cam Atkinson and Pierre-Luc Dubois – are scoreless with a collective -7 plus/minus in the last two games. That can’t continue on Monday for the Blue Jackets to extend the series to seven games. The team is also 0-for-12 in their last 12 power play opportunities.
