Washington Capitals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Prediction, NHL Odds
The Alex Ovechkin-Sidney Crosby rivalry that has defined a generation of hockey is renewed on Thursday night as Ovechkin’s Washington Capitals visit Crosby’s Pittsburgh Penguins, who are slight -105 underdogs on the NHL odds with a total of 6.5 goals.
Capitals vs. Penguins NHL Betting Odds
How many more times will fans get to see former No. 1 overall picks and legends Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby face off? Ovechkin, the top pick in the 2004 NHL Draft and the league’s all-time goals leader, is 40 and in the final year of his contract. It seems rather unlikely that Ovechkin will return next season as age seems to have caught up to him this season. Crosby, the top pick in the 2005 NHL Draft, is 38 but has one year left on his deal after this season, and he’s still playing at an All-Star level.
According to NHL.com, this will be the 99th head-to-head matchup between Ovechkin and Crosby (74 in the regular season) with Crosby holding the edge in H2H points (125-101), but Ovechkin having more goals (53-46). That makes complete sense. They were once heated, bitter rivals but now friends and share mutual respect. The only sad thing about their careers is that they never were able to meet in a Stanley Cup Finals.
Interesting scheduling by the NHL for this series as after Thursday, they don’t play again until a home-and-home set near the end of the regular season from April 11-12. Just the three games this year after they split the season series, 2-2, in each of the past two campaigns. Crosby had two goals and three assists vs. Washington last season, while Ovechkin had just a goal in the four.
The past 10 overall meetings have been split with the over-under at 4-5-1.
Washington Capitals
Major rest disadvantage for the Caps as they play the second of a back-to-back after snapping a four-game skid on Wednesday with a 6-1 home rout of St. Louis, and Alex Ovechkin made history by scoring career regular-season goal No. 900 – but only his third this year.
Anthony Beauvillier and Tom Wilson had two goals each, and Jakob Chychrun had three assists. It was the third three-assist outing of his career and first since Dec. 15, 2023. Beauvillier scored both in the second period and became the first Capitals player with a multi-goal period so far this season. The six goals were a season high for Washington.
Because Logan Thompson was in net for that one, and he leads the league in GAA and SV, it should be Charlie Lindgren tonight. The American is 1-2-1 with a 3.47 GAA and .880 SV. Lindgren shut out the Rangers in his first start of the season but has allowed at least three goals in the next three.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh lost for the fourth time in six games Monday, blowing a 3-0 third-period lead in Toronto in a 4-3 defeat. That kind of loss can linger for a while, so at least the Penguins had a few days off to practice and get it out of their systems.
Sidney Crosby assisted on a game-opening goal for the 167th time and passed Stan Mikita (166) for sole possession of eighth most in NHL history. Still a long ways to go to catch Wayne Gretzky’s mark of 243.
Ben Kindel had two goals to become the fifth 18-year-old in Penguins history with a multi-goal game. The rookie from British Columbia was the No. 11 overall pick in this year’s draft. Kindel has been getting time with forwards Rickard Rakell and Justin Brazeau nursing injuries, and his first five NHL points have all been goals.
Tristan Jarry started in Monday’s loss but now will miss at least three weeks due to injury. So will forwards Brazeau and Noel Accari. It should be former Canuck Artus Silovs (3-2-2, 2.66 GAA, .913 SV) in net Thursday. He has struggled at home, though, with a 3.58 GAA in three starts (1-1-1 mark). The over is 5-1 in the Pens’ past six at home.
