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Jeremy Perry
Penguins vs. Capitals: Game 5 Prediction, NHL Playoff Odds
The Pittsburgh Penguins have played some of their best hockey of these playoffs on the road. They will need that trend to continue when they clash with the Washington Capitals in a key Game 5 on Saturday night. The Penguins evened the series at 2-2 with a 3-1 win over Washington on their home ice in Game 4.
Penguins vs Capitals Stanley Cup Playoffs Betting Analysis
Following another low scoring affair in Game 4, the UNDER is now 7-2 in the last nine meetings between these clubs. The two teams have combined for more than five goals only once so far in this series.
The Penguins have also been great on one days rest with a 15-4-3 record in those scenarios dating back to the regular season. The Capitals are just 1-3 on home ice so far in these playoffs. They are also 20-10 at home with a total of 5.5 while the Pens are 7-9 in road games where the total sits at that number. However, they are 15-4 on Saturdays this season while the Pens are just 9-12.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh has held its opponents to two goals or fewer in five of its six games so far this postseason. That will be the blueprint for success when Saturday night rolls around. Goaltender Matt Murray, who stopped 20 of the 21 shots he faced in Game 4, has looked excellent at times this postseason and looked terrible at others. He’s the key to their success it seems as they are 1-4 when he allows three goals or more and 5-0 when allows two or less.
Meanwhile, Jake Guentzel continued his scoring hot playoffs with two goals in Pittsburgh’s 3-1 win on Thursday night. With Guentzel and Sidney Crosby on fire and Evgeni Malkin back in the lineup, this Penguins offense will be difficult to slow down. If Murray shines and the offense continues to click, Pittsburgh will win on Saturday night.
Washington Capitals
Slowing down the Penguins offense will be the key to success for Washington. Braden Holtby will be tasked with making sure that trend continues after allowing a pair of goals on 23 shots in the Game 4 loss. Holtby has posted a 2.08 goals against average and a .925 save percentage so far this postseason but at a closer look, he has a pedestrian .913 save percentage in this series. He has posted a .913 save percentage or lower in three of the four games. If Holtby is on his game as he was in Game 2, Washington might not need much offense in order to secure the victory.
The Capitals have plenty of gamebreakers led by Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Evgeni Kuznetsov and T.J. Oshie. Traditionally, though, these are the players that tend to freeze up in these critical games while the Pens players step up. If the Caps want to see a different result, they’ll need their studs to be the ones that will their team to victory – especially on home ice.
