Making on a bet on this NHL game featuring the Capitals versus the Penguins? The puck drops at 7:00 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on ESPN+. The game will be played at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. The over/under for this Metropolitan division contest is set at 6.5 goals, with the Penguins being favored by -1.5 at home against the Capitals.

WASHINGTON CAPITALS VS PITTSBURGH PENGUINS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Pittsburgh Penguins -1.5

This game will be played at PPG Paints Arena at 7:00 ET on Thursday, March 7th.

WHY BET THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS:

  • Even though they are considered 1.5-goal underdogs, our projection points to a 4-3 win for the Capitals.
  • We like the Capitals on the moneyline (+137)
  • The Capitals are also our pick on the spread at +1.5

Will the Capitals Defense Show Up in Pittsburgh?

So far this season, the Capitals have gone 28-23-9 and are currently in 10th place in the Eastern Conference. In the Metropolitan Division, Washington is in 5th place with a record of 13-8. On the road, the Capitals have gone 12-13-4.

Over their last ten games, Washington has gone 5-5, and they have gone 2-3 over their last five games. As the underdog, the Capitals have gone 16-20-7 this season.

Washington comes into the game with an average scoring margin of -0.6 goals per game. So far, the Capitals have had 14 wins by multiple goals and 14 wins by just one goal.

Overall, the team’s puck line record is 28-32, and their puck line record as the underdog is 24-19. In their last ten games, the Capitals have gone 6-4 vs. the puck line.

On average, Washington’s games have finished with 5.9 goals per game. The season’s average over/under line stands at 6.1. In total, the Capitals come in with an over/under record of 28-30-2.

Across their last three road contests, Washington has a 2-1 record vs the spread. Their overall mark in these games was 1-2, while averaging 3 goals per game.

For their offensive performance, the Capitals come in averaging 2.6 goals per game this season, which is 30th in the NHL. In the category of shots on goal per game, they are 31st in the league. The Capitals went 9-6 in games where they had more shots than their opponents. However, in games with fewer shots on goal, their record was 19-17.

Washington’s current leading scorer is Dylan Strome. This season, he has 22 goals, which puts him 51st in the NHL. Strome also comes into the game with 25 assists.

Defensively, the Penguins are currently 24th in goals allowed. On average, opponents are taking 30 shots per game against Pittsburgh. They also are 1st in shutouts, coming in with 7 shutouts.

Entering the game, goalie Darcy Kuemper has started 27 games this season. His current record stands at 13-12, and his save percentage is 0.694%.

Can the Penguins Grab a Win at Home?

At home this season, the Penguins have gone 16-10-4, including a three-game win streak. In the Metropolitan Division, Pittsburgh is 8-8 and sits in sixth place. Overall, the Penguins are 28-24-8 and are 11th in the Eastern Conference.

As the favorite, Pittsburgh has gone 19-14-5 this season and has won three straight games when favored. In their last ten games, the Penguins are 5-5 and have gone 2-3 in their last five games.

At home, the Penguins have a puck line record of 14-16 and an average scoring margin of +.4 goals per game. So far, they have 19 wins by multiple goals.

Overall, Pittsburgh’s puck line record is 29-31, and they have gone 5-5 against the puck line in their last ten games. In their last five games, the Penguins have a puck line record of 3-2.

This season, Pittsburgh’s games are averaging 5.8 goals per game. Their average over/under line is 6.3. The Penguins currently have an over/under record of 24-33-3.

Washington has a 1-2 record in their last three road games. In this stretch, they averaged 3 goals per game while allowing 4. The team also performed well vs the puck line at 2-1.

On the offensive side, the Penguins are scoring an 3 goals per game this season, ranking 25th in the NHL. When it came to shots on target per game, they are 11th in the league. Coming into the game, the Penguins have a 18-15 record when they have more shots on goal than their opponent. When they have fewer shots on goal, they are 9-9.

The leading scorer for Pittsburgh’s offense is Sidney Crosby. Coming into the game he has 32 goals, ranking 11th in the NHL. In addition to his goal scoring, Crosby has 31 assists this season.

Defensively, the Penguins are currently 24th in goals allowed. On average, opponents are taking 30 shots per game against Pittsburgh. They also are 1st in shutouts, coming in with 7 shutouts.

Goalie Tristan Jarry comes into the game having made 41 starts this season. So far, his record is 18-19 and he has a save percentage of 0.889%.