Few rivalries in sports can match the intensity and high stakes of the Penguins and Capitals. Whenever Washington and Pittsburgh get together it is among the most popular showdowns in all of NHL betting online.Consider that the Caps are Stanley Cup champions and the Pens hoisted the Cup in the two seasons before that. Further, two of the biggest superstars in the game captain the teams. Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby and Washington’s Alexander Ovechkin have their own personal rivalry. Washington leads the Metropolitan Division with improved play after a sluggish start. While Pittsburgh has finally begun to awaken.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Washington Capitals
Date and Time: Wednesday, December 19, 2018, 9 p.m. ET
Location: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
NHL Betting Online Odds at SBG: Click Here!
Penguins vs. Capitals TV Coverage: NBCSN
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh has an NHL betting online record of 15-11-4-2 with 15-13-4 over the total. Late on the Penguins have kicked into high gear to climb into third place in the Metropolitan Division. The Pens have won five out of their last seven games. And five of those seven games went over the total. Most of all Pittsburgh remains a strong offensive hockey team. Pitt ranks seventh in the NHL for goal scoring and 10th for the power play. Defensively they are a subpar 20th for goals against. Captain Sidney Crosby leads with 15 goals, 20 assists and a plus 10.
Washington Capitals
Washington has been in even better sportsbook form to maintain their Metropolitan Division lead. In fact, the Capitals have won eight of their last ten games. Additionally, eight of those gen games went over the total. Naturally the Caps are one of the NHL’s best offensive teams. Washington ranks second in the NHL for goal scoring and fifth for the power play. Simultaneously they have had a drop in defense to rank 18th for goals against. Alex Ovechkin has a team high 29 goals with 14 assists and a plus 14.
Stats to Consider
Pittsburgh has struggled badly on the road in recent games. To illustrate the Penguins have lost eight of their last ten on enemy ice. Just three of their last eight away games have gone over the total. Balanced against that is the strong record of the Capitals on Capital One Arena ice. Washington has won four of their last five home games with just one of those five going under the total.
Team vs. Team
Head to head the Capitals have had the recent edge over the Penguins. As an example, Washington has won five of their last seven against Pittsburgh. Six of the last nine in this series have gone under the total. At the Capital One Arena the Caps have also managed the cashier’s cage. To show Washington has won four of their last five on home ice over Pittsburgh. Six of the last seven between at DC between the Pens and Caps have gone under the total.
Matchup to Watch
Washington has the NHL Betting online matchup edge with home ice and head to head. As mentioned earlier all of the metrics in this situation favor the Caps.
Penguins vs. Capitals NHL Betting Online Picks
To conclude Washington is the call!
Penguins vs. Capitals NHL Betting Online Pick: Washington Capitals
Penguins vs. Capitals NHL Betting Online Series Prediction: Capitals 4, Penguins 2
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