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Jeremy Perry
Capitals vs. Penguins: Game 3 Prediction, NHL Playoff Odds
The Washington Capitals responded to a series opening loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins with a 4-1 win in Game 2. Now they need to find a way to steal a game on the road to make sure they return home either tied or ahead in the series. Pittsburgh has lost two of its first three games on home ice in these playoffs. We’ll see if they can buck that trend as the two teams get set for Game 3 on Tuesday night.
Capitals vs. Penguins Stanley Cup Playoffs Betting Analysis
Washington will approach Game 3 with confidence after registering a 7-0-0 record in its last seven road games versus teams with a home winning record greater than .600. The Capitals won each of their three road games against the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round and will attempt to continue their success as the visiting team on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh is 37-14 in its last 51 games following a loss of three goals or more. They are 28-9 after allowing four goals or more in their previous game and 17-2 after a loss by two or more.
The Penguins are also 11-4 in home games where the total sits at 5.5.
Washington Capitals
Washington is 10-1 in its last 11 road games dating back to the regular season. Whatever the key to winning on the road is, it seems like this team has found it. Head coach Barry Trotz will be hoping it carries over to this round.
Game 2 was a big bounceback for the Capitals mentally. After blowing a 2-0 third period lead in Game 1, they needed to show that this wasn’t going to haunt them. It didn’t. They held the lead this time and goaltender Braden Holtby played much better. He enters Game 3 with a 1.95 goals against average and a .932 save percentage in these playoffs. He has allowed two goals or fewer in three of his five wins while giving up three goals in his only loss of these playoffs.
Up front, Washington needs to continue to get contributions from all four forward lines at the offensive end of the ice. Lars Eller and Brett Connolly combined for three points in the Game 2 win. While Alex Ovechkin and the big guns will need to lead the way, it will certainly help the Capitals if players like Eller and Connolly can continue to step up and contribute.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh will also need its goaltender to step up in Game 3. Matt Murray allowed three goals on 31 shots in the Game 2 loss. That’s not awful but it’s not good enough to win on the road in the payoffs. Murray has shown the ability to stand tall and lead the way after losses before. As a unit, the Pens have now won 12 straight games when losing their previous contest by two or more.
For that to happen, the Pens forwards will have to play better. Evgeni Malkin missed Game 2 and the rest of the guys didn’t pick up the slack. The forward core simply needs to be better after eight different Pittsburgh forwards were a minus-one in their latest loss. Sidney Crosby, Phil Kessel and Patric Hornqvist combined to go a minus-3 with zero points.
