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Andrew Rogers
Lightning vs. Capitals: Game 6 Prediction, NHL Playoff Odds
By becoming the first team to win a home game in the Eastern Conference final, the Tampa Bay Lightning have put themselves within a victory of their second Stanley Cup berth in franchise history – but the Washington Capitals have other ideas as the teams meet Monday in Game 6 at Capital one Arena. The Lightning’s 3-2 win over the Capitals in Game 5 has made them -319 favorites to win the series – but oddsmakers like the hosts to keep this one going.
Lightning vs Capitals Stanley Cup Playoffs Betting Analysis
The Capitals come in as slight favourites, but they have some work to do if they hope to keep alive their hopes of a first Stanley Cup appearance in 20 years. Washington has never won a home game against Tampa Bay in the postseason, and are a dismal 3-5 at home so far in the playoffs. The road team has also prevailed in five of the previous six head-to-head meetings between the teams, including four of five in the Eastern Conference final.
Totals bettors are beginning to dread the number “6”, with this series having produced three pushes through the first five games. Four of Washington’s previous six home games this postseason went above the total, with the only unders coming in the first two games of their second-round tilt with Pittsburgh. And if bettors wish to take a long view, the teams have gone above the number 20 times with four pushes in their last 32 meetings.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lightning have been terrific over the past three games, in part due to great goaltending from Andrei Vasilevskiy and in part from corralling a formidable Washington play. While Vasilevskiy has limited the Capitals to just six goals over the past three games, Tampa Bay has not allowed a man-advantage goal in that span – and didn’t even give the Capitals a chance to strike in Game 5, going penalty-free for the first time all season.
Washington Capitals
Unlike most people, the Capitals love the start of the work week – they’ve won 25 of their previous 33 games played on a Monday. But to keep that trend alive, they’ll need to produce more offence – though it isn’t for a lack of trying, with Washington having outshot Tampa Bay in each of the first five games of the series. There have been one or two goals scored in the third period of all five games; the one third-period goal prop pays +225, while two pays at +220.
