The Tampa Bay Lightning and Washington Capitals are set for another intense battle, with both teams eyeing pivotal points in the playoff race. Tampa Bay enters this matchup on a red-hot 7-game win streak, while the Caps have hit a rough patch, losing 3 games back to back.
With 2 very high-powered offenses, elite talent on both sides and a potential goaltending mismatch, this game has plenty of opportunities for some good bets.
Can the Capitals bounce back at home, or will the surging Lightning prove too much to handle?
The Washington Capitals with their 38-13-8 record are coming off a bit of a rough stretch. They’ve dropped 3 straight games after an impressive run at the top of the Metropolitan Division. Losses to St. Louis, Calgary, and Utah all have exposed some weaknesses that they’ll need to clean up, especially in the net. Logan Thompson has been solid, but backup Charlie Lindgren has struggled lately as he’s posting just a .898 save percentage this season.
At the other end of the ice, the Tampa Bay Lightning and their 34-20-4 record are the hottest teams in the NHL. Quite the opposite of the Capitals, they’re riding a 7-game win streak and climbing the Atlantic Division standings. They’re just 3 points behind the #1 team, Florida.
The Bolts have been dominant defensively. They’ve given up just 2.68 goals per game, while Andrei Vasilevskiy continues to prove why he’s one of the league’s best netminders.
These teams have split their first 2 meetings this season. Tampa Bay won the first game with a decisive 3-0 shutout, while Washington took the second 5-4 in a high-scoring battle on the ice.
Washington has one of the best-scoring teams in the East. They’re averaging 3.63 GF/G behind Alex Ovechkin’s 30 goals and Dylan Strome’s 59 points.
However, their defensive play has taken a hit. They’re allowing 2.56 goals per game which is still solid, but recent performances show that they have some vulnerabilities.
Tampa Bay’s offense is also dangerous, with Nikita Kucherov leading the way with a solid 86 points and Brayden Point netting 31 goals. The Bolts have been especially effective on special teams where they’re boasting an impressive 80.7% penalty kill while Washington’s power play has struggled at 24.1%.
The biggest takeaway is that this game could come down to goaltending. Tampa Bay has the clear edge when it comes to the crease. Vasilevskiy has been nothing less than a rock in the net, with a dominant .923 save percentage and multiple shutouts during the team’s recent surge. On the other hand, Lindgren and Thompson have been a bit shaky for Washington, and if Lindgren gets the start, Tampa Bay will have an even bigger advantage.
That breaks down to 2 great offenses, a slight tilt on the special teams, but a total mismatch when it comes to the netminder. This game could go either way, but someone will have to walk away with 2 points.
Tampa Bay is simply playing at a higher level right now. They have momentum on their side, a stronger defensive core, and are the best goaltender in the matchup.
While Washington’s offense is capable of finding the back of the net, their recent defensive issues and goaltending struggles give the Lightning the upper hand heading into today’s game.
BettorsInsider Prediction: Lightning 3, Capitals 1
Our pick: Tampa Bay Lightning moneyline
We’re taking the moneyline on this instead of the puck line only because both offenses can figure out how to get the job done. Sure, Vasilevskiy is one of the best goalies in the NHL, but he’s still going up against Ovechkin and Strome who could get lucky and light the lamp a couple of times. However, we expect the Bolts to extend their win streak to 8 with a hard-fought road victory.