A steady diet of games against the Capitals and Islanders has served the Penguins well, as they prepare to face the Caps yet again on Thursday night.
| Puckline | +1.5 -259 |
| Moneyline | +100 |
| Over / Under | o +6.5 |
| Puckline | -1.5 +215 |
| Moneyline | -120 |
| Over / Under | u +6.5 |
Pittsburgh will play the eighth of 10 consecutive games against one of those two divisional foes, and they’ve gone 5-2 SU in the first seven – including two wins in three meetings with the Capitals, who come in with just three wins over their previous nine games.
Penguins vs. Capitals 2/25/21 Betting Analysis
The combination of Pittsburgh’s hot stretch, Washington’s stumbles and the Capitals having home-ice advantage has made this one a near-toss-up in the eyes of oddsmakers, who have made Washington an ever-so-slight favourite. This despite the fact that the Penguins have now won four of the previous five meetings between the teams (though three of those games went to extra time). The Capitals do, however, have a solid 6-3-2 home record on the season.
Nearly three-quarters of Sports Interaction bettors are siding with the home team in Thursday’s rematch, while 59 percent are taking the Under on the total of 6.5 (valued at -120 compared with the O6.5 at +100). These teams have soared past the total in seven of their previous nine meetings overall, and have combined for 7+ goals in three of five encounters this season. And the Penguins are 9-8 O/U for the year, while the Capitals are 11-7.
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins are far from perfect, but they’ve shown vast improvement on the back end in recent games – and that has them turning things around after a slow start to the season. Pittsburgh has allowed two or fewer goals in each of their previous three games, lowering the team GAA to 3.24 for the season. But the news isn’t all good, with the team learning that forward Jason Zucker will be out “longer-term” with a lower-body injury.
Washington Capitals
Today’s NHL is all about speed – and the Capitals have a major lack in that area compared to the league average. They attempted to counter the Penguins’ wheels last time out with extreme physicality – and while that helped them earn a 2-1 advantage in the hits department, they were still outshot 37-22 and were fortunate to escape with a single point. The Capitals boast a minus-1.9 average shot margin for the season, while the Penguins are at plus-1.1.
NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Penguins vs. Capitals?
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
| time | fav | line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening 24 Feb 8:56pm | PIT | -1.5 +214 | U +6.5 -120 |
| Closing 25 Feb 11:40pm | PIT | -1.5 +216 | U +6.5 -120 |
- Regular Season
Penguins Team Leaders
| Points |
48 |
| + / - |
15 |
| Shots |
124 |
| Penalty Mins |
28 |
| Wins |
17 |
| GAA |
2.4 |
| Points |
44 |
| + / - |
14 |
| Shots |
158 |
| Penalty Mins |
47 |
| Wins |
17 |
| GAA |
2.6 |
- Regular Season
Capitals Team Leaders
| Points |
48 |
| + / - |
15 |
| Shots |
124 |
| Penalty Mins |
28 |
| Wins |
17 |
| GAA |
2.4 |
| Points |
44 |
| + / - |
14 |
| Shots |
158 |
| Penalty Mins |
47 |
| Wins |
17 |
| GAA |
2.6 |
Injuries
Frederick Gaudreau (C)
John Marino (D)
Brandon Tanev (LW)
Tristan Jarry (G)
Mark Jankowski (C)
Kasperi Kapanen (RW)
Brandon Tanev (LW)
Teddy Blueger (C)
Evgeni Malkin (C)
John Marino (D)
Michael Raffl (LW)
Ilya Samsonov (G)
Alex Ovechkin (LW)
Lars Eller (C)
Lars Eller (C)
Tom Wilson (RW)
Evgeny Kuznetsov (C)
Alex Ovechkin (LW)
T.J. Oshie (RW)
Conor Sheary (LW)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frederick Gaudreau (C) | Out indefinitely | Lower Body - 12 / 04 / 21 | 2-1 | 3-0 | + - |
|
Gaudreau is out of the lineup with a lower-body injury, and team officials have yet to provide an exact return date. |
|||||
| John Marino (D) | Ques Thurs | Upper Body - 07 / 04 / 21 | 0-0 | 0-0 | + - |
|
Marino exited the last game with an upper-body injury, and it is unknown if he will be active for Thursday's match versus the Rangers. |
|||||
| Brandon Tanev (LW) | Late May | Upper Body - 05 / 04 / 21 | 0-1 | 1-0 | + - |
|
Tanev has been added to the long-term injured reserve list with an upper-body injury, and he is not expected to be available until the end of May. |
|||||
| Tristan Jarry (G) | Prob Tues | Undisclosed - 29 / 03 / 21 | 2-2 | 2-2 | + - |
|
Jarry has missed the last two games with an undisclosed injury, but it is likely that he will be active Tuesday versus the Rangers. |
|||||
| Mark Jankowski (C) | Out indefinitely | Illness - 27 / 03 / 21 | 3-2 | 2-3 | + - |
|
Jankowski has been posted to the COVID-19 Protocol list, and he will miss an undetermined length of time. |
|||||
| Kasperi Kapanen (RW) | Late April | Lower Body - 25 / 03 / 21 | 4-2 | 3-3 | + - |
|
Kapanen has been ticketed for the injured reserve list with a lower-body injury, and he is not projected to return until the latter part of April. |
|||||
| Brandon Tanev (LW) | Out indefinitely | Upper Body - 20 / 03 / 21 | 5-4 | 3-6 | + - |
|
Tanev has been placed on the injured reserve list with an upper-body injury, and it remains to be seen if he will return to action. |
|||||
| Teddy Blueger (C) | Out indefinitely | Upper Body - 17 / 03 / 21 | 5-5 | 3-7 | + - |
|
Blueger has wound up on the injured reserve list due with an upper-body injury, and it is unclear how long he will be idle. |
|||||
| Evgeni Malkin (C) | Out indefinitely | Lower Body - 17 / 03 / 21 | 5-5 | 3-7 | + - |
|
Malkin has been placed on the injured reserve list with a lower-body injury, and it is unclear how long he will be debilitated. |
|||||
| John Marino (D) | Ques Thurs | Upper Body - 11 / 03 / 21 | 9-5 | 4-9-1 | + - |
|
Marino has been activated from the injured reserve list after recovering from an upper-body injury, and it is uncertain if he will dress for Thursday's clash with the Devils. |
|||||
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Raffl (LW) | Ques Thurs | Undisclosed - 13 / 04 / 21 | 1-2 | 2-1 | + - |
|
Raffl has sat out the last two contests with an undefined ailment, and it is unknown if he will face the Sabres on Thursday. |
|||||
| Ilya Samsonov (G) | Ques Fri | Undisclosed - 01 / 04 / 21 | 0-4 | 3-1 | + - |
|
Samsonov exited the last game with an undisclosed injury, and it is unknown if he will be available Friday versus the Devils. |
|||||
| Alex Ovechkin (LW) | Prob Thurs | Lower Body - 23 / 03 / 21 | 1-7 | 5-3 | + - |
|
Ovechkin is tending to a lower-body injury, but he is projected to be available to face the Devils on Thursday. |
|||||
| Lars Eller (C) | Out indefinitely | Lower Body - 15 / 03 / 21 | 4-8 | 6-5-1 | + - |
|
Eller is out of the lineup due to a lower-body injury, and he will miss an extended period. |
|||||
| Lars Eller (C) | Ques Sat | Personal - 11 / 03 / 21 | 5-9 | 8-5-1 | + - |
|
Eller missed the last contest while tending to a personal matter, and it is unclear if he will be available against the Flyers on Saturday. |
|||||
| Tom Wilson (RW) | Elig Sat | Suspension - 07 / 03 / 21 | 6-10 | 8-6-2 | + - |
|
Wilson has been handed a seven-game suspension by the NHL for boarding an opponent. He is expected to return to the lineup Saturday against the Rangers. |
|||||
| Evgeny Kuznetsov (C) | Prob Wed | Upper Body - 27 / 02 / 21 | 9-11 | 10-8-2 | + - |
|
Kuznetsov has missed the last two games tending to a lower-body injury, but it is anticipated that he will be in the lineup Wednesday versus the Bruins. |
|||||
| Alex Ovechkin (LW) | Ques Sat | Undisclosed - 26 / 02 / 21 | 9-11 | 10-8-2 | + - |
|
Ovechkin is dealing with an undisclosed issue, and it is unknown if he will be active for Saturday's match versus the Devil's. |
|||||
| T.J. Oshie (RW) | Ques Sun | Upper Body - 07 / 02 / 21 | 11-17 | 13-13-2 | + - |
|
Oshie missed the previous game with an upper-body injury, and it is unknown if he will play against the Penguins on Sunday. |
|||||
| Conor Sheary (LW) | Prob Sun | Lower Body - 07 / 02 / 21 | 11-17 | 13-13-2 | + - |
|
Sheary is nursing a lower-body injury, but he is projected to be available for Sunday's matchup versus the Flyers. |
|||||
-
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
3 -
WASHINGTON CAPITALS
4
Score
Prediction
-
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 24 Feb 8:56pm PIT -1.5 +214 U +6.5 -120 Closing 25 Feb 11:40pm PIT -1.5 +216 U +6.5 -120 -
- Regular Season
Penguins Team Leaders
Points 48
+ / - 15
Shots 124
Penalty Mins 28
Wins 17
GAA 2.4
Points 44
+ / - 14
Shots 158
Penalty Mins 47
Wins 17
GAA 2.6
-
- Regular Season
Capitals Team Leaders
Points 48
+ / - 15
Shots 124
Penalty Mins 28
Wins 17
GAA 2.4
Points 44
+ / - 14
Shots 158
Penalty Mins 47
Wins 17
GAA 2.6
-
Injuries
Frederick Gaudreau (C)
Out indefinitely Lower Body - 12 / 04 / 21John Marino (D)
Ques Thurs Upper Body - 07 / 04 / 21Brandon Tanev (LW)
Late May Upper Body - 05 / 04 / 21Tristan Jarry (G)
Prob Tues Undisclosed - 29 / 03 / 21Mark Jankowski (C)
Out indefinitely Illness - 27 / 03 / 21Kasperi Kapanen (RW)
Late April Lower Body - 25 / 03 / 21Brandon Tanev (LW)
Out indefinitely Upper Body - 20 / 03 / 21Teddy Blueger (C)
Out indefinitely Upper Body - 17 / 03 / 21Evgeni Malkin (C)
Out indefinitely Lower Body - 17 / 03 / 21John Marino (D)
Ques Thurs Upper Body - 11 / 03 / 21Michael Raffl (LW)
Ques Thurs Undisclosed - 13 / 04 / 21Ilya Samsonov (G)
Ques Fri Undisclosed - 01 / 04 / 21Alex Ovechkin (LW)
Prob Thurs Lower Body - 23 / 03 / 21Lars Eller (C)
Out indefinitely Lower Body - 15 / 03 / 21Lars Eller (C)
Ques Sat Personal - 11 / 03 / 21Tom Wilson (RW)
Elig Sat Suspension - 07 / 03 / 21Evgeny Kuznetsov (C)
Prob Wed Upper Body - 27 / 02 / 21Alex Ovechkin (LW)
Ques Sat Undisclosed - 26 / 02 / 21T.J. Oshie (RW)
Ques Sun Upper Body - 07 / 02 / 21Conor Sheary (LW)
Prob Sun Lower Body - 07 / 02 / 21Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Frederick Gaudreau (C) Out indefinitely Lower Body - 12 / 04 / 21 2-1 3-0 + - Gaudreau is out of the lineup with a lower-body injury, and team officials have yet to provide an exact return date.
John Marino (D) Ques Thurs Upper Body - 07 / 04 / 21 0-0 0-0 + - Marino exited the last game with an upper-body injury, and it is unknown if he will be active for Thursday's match versus the Rangers.
Brandon Tanev (LW) Late May Upper Body - 05 / 04 / 21 0-1 1-0 + - Tanev has been added to the long-term injured reserve list with an upper-body injury, and he is not expected to be available until the end of May.
Tristan Jarry (G) Prob Tues Undisclosed - 29 / 03 / 21 2-2 2-2 + - Jarry has missed the last two games with an undisclosed injury, but it is likely that he will be active Tuesday versus the Rangers.
Mark Jankowski (C) Out indefinitely Illness - 27 / 03 / 21 3-2 2-3 + - Jankowski has been posted to the COVID-19 Protocol list, and he will miss an undetermined length of time.
Kasperi Kapanen (RW) Late April Lower Body - 25 / 03 / 21 4-2 3-3 + - Kapanen has been ticketed for the injured reserve list with a lower-body injury, and he is not projected to return until the latter part of April.
Brandon Tanev (LW) Out indefinitely Upper Body - 20 / 03 / 21 5-4 3-6 + - Tanev has been placed on the injured reserve list with an upper-body injury, and it remains to be seen if he will return to action.
Teddy Blueger (C) Out indefinitely Upper Body - 17 / 03 / 21 5-5 3-7 + - Blueger has wound up on the injured reserve list due with an upper-body injury, and it is unclear how long he will be idle.
Evgeni Malkin (C) Out indefinitely Lower Body - 17 / 03 / 21 5-5 3-7 + - Malkin has been placed on the injured reserve list with a lower-body injury, and it is unclear how long he will be debilitated.
John Marino (D) Ques Thurs Upper Body - 11 / 03 / 21 9-5 4-9-1 + - Marino has been activated from the injured reserve list after recovering from an upper-body injury, and it is uncertain if he will dress for Thursday's clash with the Devils.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Michael Raffl (LW) Ques Thurs Undisclosed - 13 / 04 / 21 1-2 2-1 + - Raffl has sat out the last two contests with an undefined ailment, and it is unknown if he will face the Sabres on Thursday.
Ilya Samsonov (G) Ques Fri Undisclosed - 01 / 04 / 21 0-4 3-1 + - Samsonov exited the last game with an undisclosed injury, and it is unknown if he will be available Friday versus the Devils.
Alex Ovechkin (LW) Prob Thurs Lower Body - 23 / 03 / 21 1-7 5-3 + - Ovechkin is tending to a lower-body injury, but he is projected to be available to face the Devils on Thursday.
Lars Eller (C) Out indefinitely Lower Body - 15 / 03 / 21 4-8 6-5-1 + - Eller is out of the lineup due to a lower-body injury, and he will miss an extended period.
Lars Eller (C) Ques Sat Personal - 11 / 03 / 21 5-9 8-5-1 + - Eller missed the last contest while tending to a personal matter, and it is unclear if he will be available against the Flyers on Saturday.
Tom Wilson (RW) Elig Sat Suspension - 07 / 03 / 21 6-10 8-6-2 + - Wilson has been handed a seven-game suspension by the NHL for boarding an opponent. He is expected to return to the lineup Saturday against the Rangers.
Evgeny Kuznetsov (C) Prob Wed Upper Body - 27 / 02 / 21 9-11 10-8-2 + - Kuznetsov has missed the last two games tending to a lower-body injury, but it is anticipated that he will be in the lineup Wednesday versus the Bruins.
Alex Ovechkin (LW) Ques Sat Undisclosed - 26 / 02 / 21 9-11 10-8-2 + - Ovechkin is dealing with an undisclosed issue, and it is unknown if he will be active for Saturday's match versus the Devil's.
T.J. Oshie (RW) Ques Sun Upper Body - 07 / 02 / 21 11-17 13-13-2 + - Oshie missed the previous game with an upper-body injury, and it is unknown if he will play against the Penguins on Sunday.
Conor Sheary (LW) Prob Sun Lower Body - 07 / 02 / 21 11-17 13-13-2 + - Sheary is nursing a lower-body injury, but he is projected to be available for Sunday's matchup versus the Flyers.