The San Jose Sharks are heading to Washington D.C. to take on the Capitals in what will undoubtedly be an unbelievable NHL matchup at the Capital One Arena. With Washington riding a four-game winning streak and the Sharks showing that they’re improving with each game, this game provides plenty of betting angles to check out.
The Washington Capitals are heavily favored at -280 coming into this game while the San Jose Sharks come in as massive underdogs at +230. That’s not a surprise to us, but nonetheless, it shows what the oddsmakers are thinking when they’re rolling out the odds.
The over/under is set at a pretty high 6.5 goals, with both teams trending differently in recent games. Washington is 17-6-1 this season which includes a really nice 9-2-0 record at home. San Jose, on the other hand, sits at 9-13-5 and has struggled on the road at 3-7-4. It’s easy to see how the odds are set where they’re at by just looking at the records alone.
Washington’s offense has been clicking. They’ve scored 4.21 goals per game throughout the season while their defense allows a respectable 2.88 goals per game. San Jose has managed just 2.89 goals per game while giving up a troubling 3.41 goals per game, which just goes to show their defensive vulnerabilities.
Sure, this seems a bit lopsided, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t money to be made from this matchup. We already like where this one is going.
Despite being dead last (8th) in the Pacific Division, The Sharks are on a bit of a hot streak. They’ve won 3 of their last 4 games, including two straight over Seattle. That might not say too much given the Kraken are 7th in the Pacific.
Their offense has found a bit of rhythm, but it’s been inconsistent overall. They’re not getting more than 2-3 games out of their offensive spark before it dwindles.
Mackenzie Blackwood has been solid between the pipes recently, but his season numbers (3.06 GAA, .906 save percentage) tell us he’s had a tough time against high-scoring teams like the Caps.
Washington, on the other hand, has been an offensive juggernaut led by Dylan Strome, who has racked up 34 points this season. That’s not bad considering Ovechkin has been out for a few games.
Their power play unit is converting at 22.7%, and their penalty kill is fairly efficient at 83.3%, giving them a clear edge in special teams over San Jose. Whether they’re disadvantaged or have the advantage, they’re doing what they need to do to remain dominant.
That said, Washington has struggled to cover the puck line. With 12 of their last 13 games being decided by one goal, that tells us that they’re not overly crushing their opponents. This trend suggests that while the Capitals win often, their victories are rarely dominant.
While Washington is obviously the better team, their tendency to win close games makes betting on the Sharks +1.5 (-105) the smarter bet here.
San Jose has also covered the puck line in 12 of Washington’s last 13 games. The Sharks have been surprisingly competitive against stronger opponents during their recent stretch.
The Capitals' defensive lapses in recent games — allowing 4+ goals in 3 straight games, eek — make this a tempting spot to back San Jose to at least keep things close.
However, Washington’s firepower should still see them through.
BettorsInsider prediction: Washington Capitals 4, San Jose Sharks 3
Take the Sharks +1.5 as the best bet for this game, but expect Washington to continue their winning streak in what could be another tight contest. Taking the over on the total might not be a bad bet as well. Both teams, despite their recent forms, have still found the back of the net more often than not.