The Washington Capitals (17-5-6) and Chicago Blackhawks (10-15-2) meet Wednesday for a tussle at United Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Capitals vs. Blackhawks odds and lines and make our expert NHL picks, predictions and bets.
Washington earned a 3-2 shootout win at Buffalo Saturday and is playing the second game of a three-game road trip. The Caps have had three shootouts in their last five games, a stretch that began with a 4-3 loss to these Blackhawks Dec. 2.
The Blackhawks had their Monday game against the Calgary Flames nixed due to COVID-19 protocols on the Calgary side. Chicago is 9-6-0 since enduring a dreadful 1-9-2 open to the season. Despite five of their last eight games being against top-10 teams (point percentage), the ‘Hawks have posted a 52.8% Corsi-for over that stretch.
Capitals at Blackhawks odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:23 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Capitals -155 (bet $155 to win $100) | Blackhawks +125 (bet $100 to win $125)
- Against the spread (ATS): Capitals -1.5 (+150) | Blackhawks +1.5 (-200)
- Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -122 | U: -102)
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Capitals at Blackhawks projected goalies
Ilya Samsonov (11-2-1, 2.47 GAA, .915 SV%, 3 SO) vs. Marc-Andre Fleury (8-0-0, 2.79 GAA, .913 SV%, 2 SO)
Samsonov owns a spectacular .950 SV% over his last four road starts. He was not between the pipes when Chicago defeated Washington Dec. 2.
Fleury stopped 30-of-30 in his last start Thursday at the Montreal Canadiens, and the veteran netminder owns a .939 SV% over his last 10 games. He was undone by a pair of power-play goals in yielding 5 overall in his last home game Dec. 7 versus the Rangers.
Capitals at Blackhawks odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Blackhawks 3, Capitals 2
Money line
The home side is the likable play in this one, but just barely so at the current tag. Consider a partial-unit play on CHICAGO (+125).
Fleury has been in a vintage Vezina-last-season groove of late, and the ‘Hawks have registered solid puck-possession analytics against a tough slate in recent weeks.
Performances versus expected goals would indicate Chicago is a little undervalued while the Capitals look to be too far out over their skis. Throw in Samsonov owning a .925 SV% figure in short-handed situations, and this match-up is bound to have too far a public lean toward Washington.
Against the spread
PASS. The Chicago outright play offers the best return for the risk.
Over/Under
With this game being the second Washington-Chicago meeting in two weeks and with a nod toward the goalies in a tightened-up affair, the UNDER 5.5 (-102) has a slight lean.
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