NHL Odds, Preview, Prediction: Capitals vs. Oilers (March 9)
Patrick Smith/Getty Images. Pictured: Ilya Samsonov.
- The Oilers host the Capitals on Wednesday night as short home favorites.
- Will Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals get it done on the road against the Oilers without Connor McDavid?
- NHL betting analyst Tony Sartori breaks down the matchup and shares his best bet below.
Capitals vs. Oilers Odds
| Capitals Odds | +110 |
| Oilers Odds | -130 |
| Over/Under | 6.5 (+100/-120) |
| Time | 8 p.m. ET |
| TV | TNT |
| Odds via DraftKings. Get up-to-the-minute NHL Odds here. | |
The Metropolitan Division's fourth-place Washington Capitals travel to Edmonton to take on the Pacific Division's fourth-place Oilers. This is the second meeting between these two teams this season as the Oilers won the first matchup 5-3 early last month.
Will we get another high-scoring game, or will the goaltenders step up in the first TNT game on Wednesday?
Can Ovechkin and the Capitals Pull the Upset on Short Rest?
The Washington Capitals enter this game on the second half of a road back-to-back following Tuesday's matchup against the Calgary Flames. We could see some tired legs from this Capitals team that will be playing its fourth game in the last seven days.
The Capitals have been a part of some low-scoring games recently as five of their last seven games have seen six or fewer total goals scored. The starter for this matchup is Ilya Samsonov, who has been tremendous on the road recently.
Over his last four road starts, Samsonov boasts an impressive 0.909 Save Percentage and a 2.50 Goals Allowed Average. There have been six or fewer total goals scored in three of those four road starts.
Overshadowed by their Alex Ovechkin-led offense, the Capitals possess one of the best blue lines in the league this year. Currently, Washington ranks eighth in the league in five-on-five Expected Goals Against per 60 minutes (xGA).
Will the Shorthanded Oilers Protect Their Home Ice?
The Edmonton Oilers enter this contest following a hard-fought loss to the Calgary Flames on Monday. The Battle of Alberta ended 3-1 in what was yet another low-scoring game for the Oilers.
There have been six or fewer total goals scored in three of Edmonton's last five games as the offense has gone stagnant. Over those five games, the Oilers are averaging just 2.5 goals scored per game.
Interim head coach Jay Woodcroft has shifted line combinations numerous times over this stretch as they try to find a groove again, but Washington is a tough team to figure It out against. Edmonton also is dealing with a large number of injuries, specifically to players who contribute offensively outside of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
Tyson Barrie, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Evan Bouchard, and Jesse Puljujarvi are all unlikely to play against Washington. Those four players account for almost 24% of Edmonton's entire offensive point production on the season.
Capitals vs. Oilers Pick
Undoubtedly, these are two teams that usually do not have trouble finding the back of the net. However, I like the total to go under in this matchup.
The Oilers are playing with a thin roster right now, and the Capitals have been playing at a slow pace recently. I made this total to be six before It opened at 6.5, so I like the value of the under here.
Pick: Capitals/Oilers Under 6.5 (-120) | Play Down to (-130)
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