The Chicago Blackhawks versus the Washington Capitals is not just a NHL live betting matchup but a battle of one-percenters. The Caps are the 11th most valuable franchise in the league at a value of $625 million according to Forbes. The Capitals have seen a 9% increase in their value in the last year since Laurene Powell Jobs bought 20% of Monumental Sports and Entertainment. However, the ‘Hawks have done them one better and become the fourth billion-dollar franchise in the NHL. Talk about frozen assets.
- Date: Wednesday, 6th December
- Time: 8:05 PM
- Venue: Capital One Arena
Sportsbook NHL Hockey Betting Lines:
Blackhawks +1½ (-250) 5½ (-105) +110
Capitals -1½ (+210) 5½ (-115) -130
Time to push the Panik button?
Chicago right winger Richard Pánik was signed, on the strength of 22 goals and 22 assists last season, to a $5.6 million deal in the offseason, but has not scored since October 21st. the Slovak skater is well aware of this. “Just got to play better,” he said. “I’m trying to not think about it too much and just stay positive. I need one goal and I think it’s going to be good.” Head coach Joel Quenneville is not oblivious to the Panik’s struggles, but only until Sunday’s game against the LA Kings did he move Panik from the top line with Brandon
Saad and Jonathan Toews to the fourth line with Lance Bouma and Tommy Wingels, putting John Hayden on the right wing of the top line. “[Hayden] gave it more possession, more zone time, something that line needs for us to be effective as a team,” Quenneville said. “Thought he did a decent job at it.” The ‘Hawks nonetheless lost their fourth straight game. Chicago is 2-14 SU in their last 16 games playing a team with a winning record, and 6-13 in their last 19 NHL live betting games on the road.
Oshie? More like ‘Oh sh–’!
Washington entertains the Blackhawks on Wednesday, but it may have to do so without T.J. Oshie. #CapsHawks #ALLCAPS https://t.co/yMQZbbogWf
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 6, 2017
The Caps have won five of their last six games, including a 4-1 win over the Sharks on Monday, but they lost right winger TJ Oshie, who left late in the second period after becoming the meat in a Joe Thornton/corner boards sandwich. Oshie didn’t practice on Tuesday, and head coach Barry Trotz said he’s “very doubtful” to play against Chicago, unlike forward Chandler Stephenson, who missed Monday’s game with an undisclosed “upper-body” injury, but is expected to play on Wednesday. Oshie’s spot on the power play is expected to be filled by Brett Connolly, who has scored two goals in the last two games. The Caps have had 60 man-games lost to injury since defenseman Matt Niskanen injured his left thumb, including Andre Burakovsky, who has missed 19 games also with a broken left thumb. “We lived in an unreal world where we didn’t have a lot of injuries the last two years. This is probably more the normal,” Trotz said of the injuries. The Capitals are 10-4 in their last 14 Wednesday games and 37-14 in their last 51 NHL live betting home games.