The Washington Capitals (31-25-7) and Boston Bruins (34-22-5) meet in the NHL tonight. Puck drop is set for 12:30 p.m. EST at TD Garden in Boston, Mass. The game will be broadcast live on ABC.
The Bruins are favored by -1.5 on the puck line, with the over/under set at 6 (-107o / -110u). The Bruins are a -120 favorite to win outright, while the Capitals are +102 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Capitals vs. Bruins predictions and NHL picks.
Capitals vs. Bruins Odds, Pick
| Capitals Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -250 | 6 -107o / -110u | +102 |
| Bruins Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +201 | 6 -107o / -110u | -120 |
- Capitals vs. Bruins Spread: Bruins -1.5 (+201 ), Capitals +1.5 (-250)
- Capitals vs. Bruins Over/Under: 6 (-107o / -110u)
- Capitals vs. Bruins Moneyline: Capitals +102, Bruins -120
Capitals vs. Bruins Preview
Washington Capitals
The Capitals are going to be looking drastically different than what we’re used to seeing.
They traded longtime defenseman John Carlson to the Anaheim Ducks for a handful of high picks. They also traded Nic Dowd, while adding Timothy Liljegren and David Kampf.
While Liljegren and Kampf are solid additions, it feels like the Capitals brass are ready to pack it in and move on to next season.
And it’s shown over the past week since the NHL came back from the Olympic break. At 5-on-5 play, Washington has played to an 11th-worst 45.61 xGF% and a fifth-worst 3.52 xGA/60.
But the trade sent shockwaves throughout the Capitals' locker room. Even captain Alex Ovechkin told the media that the move from Carlson was one of the “saddest days in his career.”
So you have to imagine that the Capitals' skating legs are feeling extra heavy today. Especially for a 12:30 p.m. puck drop.
Because the Caps had a three-game break, I’d expect to see Logan Thompson get the nod for today. Thompson has been one of the few bright spots of this team, as he’s played to a .913 SV% and a 22.8 GSAx.
Boston Bruins
Since coming back from the Olympics, the Bruins have had a hard time sustaining success. They’ve gone 2-2, trading wins and losses, and since they lost to Nashville on Thursday, is a win on the horizon?
Boston’s a peculiar team, because David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy are two of the NHL’s brightest superstars, and beyond that, they actually have a really deep roster.
They just can’t seem to gain any momentum.
The B’s defense has certainly been lacking since coming back, playing to a morbid 3.6 xGA/60 on defense, while the offense has been second-worst overall with a 39.98 xGF%.
But this kind of play seems to check out for the season. Even though they’re in the thick of a playoff race, both their 5-on-5 offense and defense are in the bottom-10.
Bless Jeremy Swayman’s heart because he’s been fighting for his life all season. With such a brutal defense in front of him, it’s a marvel that his GSAx is third in the league, and he’s playing to a .905 SV%.
Capitals vs. Bruins Prediction
I think the Carlson trade holds a lot more weight than you may think.
Washington handled the trade so poorly, trading him while he was asleep, and he was a beloved figure in the locker room.
As I said earlier, I believe this move has signaled to the league that the white flag is out and that the Caps are inching closer to the lottery.
And given that this is a deep draft coming up, it’s not the worst idea.
Even though they’re three points away from a playoff spot, it’s clear that general manager Chris Patrick didn’t see this team being a perennial contender, even if they make the playoffs.
I don’t think the Bruins are a prize by any means, but at least they’re at home, where they enjoy a 23-8-1 record, and the Caps are 12-14-4 on the road.
Pick: Bruins Moneyline (-115)
