Carolina Hurricanes vs Washington Capitals Best Bet: Riding the Canes
Carolina Hurricanes vs Washington Capitals Best Bet: Riding the Canes
The Carolina Hurricanes are (currently) the best all-around team in the National Hockey League.
I will die on that hill.
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Carolina Hurricanes vs Washington Capitals Prediction
Top to bottom the style of play and chemistry they all share plays so well into their game and some of the guys they have on the ice right now are gifted; they also make everyone else better. They are dangerous on the offensive end of things but defensively sound with, in my opinion, the best one two punch netminder combination in the league with Anderson and Raanta. They hold a league leading low of just a 2.38 GAA in all situations and it is only marginally higher on the road where they are conceding 2.57 GPG, fourth lowest in the league. They are also sporting a solid 3.39 GF/G while on the road, fifth-best in the league.
Today when I saw the line of -120 I 1) freaked out and 2) immediately tried to figure out what was wrong.
I figured someone was hurt, covid protocols something to make this line drop from what in my own eyes should have been at least around 145. The Capitals are not a bad club and I really believed they were cup contenders earlier in the year, as did many others, however they have completely fallen off of the wagon.
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The Washington Capitals have played ten games since February 1; they are 5-5 and scoring just 2.6 GF/G but even that is a flattering way to put it. I dove into the numbers myself and of those 26 biscuits they buried only 15/26 came at even strength; eight came off the power play (with 3-4 of those goals coming from the man) and three empty netters.
1.5 GF/G at even strength this last month is far from the offensive production you need to beat Carolina. Washington is sporting a 3.07 GAA at home this season which isn’t great and they send out backup netminder Vitek Vanecek tonight. To be fair his numbers are solid but he is the secondary netminder for a reason and has not started a game in over a month.
I even went back and looked at what I guess you could call an “elevated” form of a box score with more projections on how the game should have gone/probability breakdowns based on play. I also watched some of the game film itself earlier today.
They did not deserve the win.
Washington buried one goal that they truly earned, the second came on an insane deflection off Anderson himself. Carolina outshot Washington and dominated the faceoff circle; they roared back and tied it with two excellent goals. They then were assed their 5th penalty of the game, Washington scored on the power play and buried an empty netter.
I have thought about this game all day and to be blunt
There is some narrative Washington must win here if they want to storm back into the season and playoff conversation that many are having; I do believe they need to win soon, but I am thinking next time out. Carolina is coming off a loss as well and they do not necessarily care about the feelings of the Capitals.
Yes, it is a home game for Washington and I am telling you they have a lot of talent, don’t get me wrong, but until they show me they are still that team we all thought they were they are a fade. There is nothing that has occurred in the last three games that tells me this is the game Washington gets back into things.
I am taking my chances at these odds with the best club in hockey and a rested well-rested Anderson any day of the week.
As always, am attacking this one a few ways. Best of luck to all who tail!
Vamos! Go Canes.
Carolina Hurricanes vs Washington Capitals Line Movement
Carolina Hurricanes vs Washington Capitals Pick
- Carolina Hurricanes ML -120 (play up to -135) (Bet $120 to win $100)
Article Author
Born and raised in St. Louis, JT is a young gun in the industry but has already established himself as one of the sharpest. Some refer to him as the "King of the Ice" as a result of his dominance in the NHL, which has been his claim to fame. However, he also excels in other markets including the NFL, MLB, and NCAAF. You can follow JT on Twitter at @RickyBobbyBets.