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Jeremy Perry
Capitals vs. Penguins: Game 6 Prediction, NHL Playoff Odds
The Capitals will have the opportunity to clinch a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals with a win over Pittsburgh in Game 6 on Monday night. After getting eliminated by the Penguins in each of the last two postseasons, Washington won’t take this chance for granted. Can the Capitals close out the series on the road? Or will Pittsburgh force a deciding Game 7? Let’s take a closer look at the matchup heading in to Game 6.
Capitals vs Penguins Stanley Cup Playoffs Betting Analysis
Washington has actually been better on the road than at home so far in these playoffs – the Capitals are 4-1 as the visiting team including a 4-3 win in Pittsburgh in Game 3. The magic number for Washington is four after they scored four goals or more in six of their seven wins this postseason. The Penguins need to be better defensively. Pittsburgh is 1-5 this postseason when giving up four goals or more. Despite a high-scoring affair in Game 5, the Under has hit in seven of the last 10 meetings between these teams.
Washington Capitals
With Tom Wilson suspended, Jakub Vrana stepped up big time for the Capitals after he was inserted on the top line in Game 5. Vrana scored game 5’s game-winning goal and recorded three points in the 6-3 win. Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Kuznetsov combined for four points as the top line had seven points in the victory. With Wilson suspended and Nicklas Backstrom’s status in question after he left Game 5 with an injury, it will be on Ovechkin, Kuznetsov and Vrana to deliver up front again in Game 6.
Meanwhile, Washington will have an excellent chance to close out the series if goaltender Braden Holtby performs the way he did in Game 5. Holtby turned aside 36 of the 39 shots he faced in that win. Holtby owns a 2.16 goals against average and a .924 save percentage so far this postseason. He will need to be the Capitals’ best player again in Game 6.
Pittsburgh Penguins
The two-time defending Stanley Cup champions will be ready to go on home ice facing elimination in Game 6. As is the case with Washington, the Penguins will need their goaltender to be their best player on Monday night. Matt Murray allowed four goals on 30 shots in the Game 5 loss on the road. He has allowed four goals or more six times so far in these playoffs while allowing two goals or fewer five times. Which Murray will show up for Pittsburgh in Game 6?
The big guns up front will need to be better for the Penguins as well as Evgeni Malkin, Patric Hornqvist and Phil Kessel were a combined minus-four in Game 5. Pittsburgh knows what it takes to rebound in an elimination game and its star players will need to be at their best. The Penguins should come out firing on all cylinders in Game 6. Nobody will be surprised if they stave off elimination and force a Game 7 with a big win on Monday night.
