The Washington Capitals (24-17-6) travel to meet the Arizona Coyotes (14-25-5) Thursday at Mullett Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 9 p.m. (ESPN+). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Capitals vs. Coyotes odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Capitals have been in a bit of a tailspin lately, falling 4-2 on home ice to the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday. Washington is just 4-4-2 in the past 10 games, securing just 10 out of a possible 20 points.
The Coyotes earned a 4-3 shootout win over the visiting Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday, snapping a 9-game skid. The 4-goal output was much-needed, after totaling just 8 goals in the previous 6 outings.
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Capitals at Coyotes odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:11 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Capitals -210 (bet $210 to win $100) | Coyotes +180 (bet $100 to win $180)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Capitals -1.5 (+125) | Coyotes +1.5 (-150)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: +110 | U: -130)
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Capitals at Coyotes projected goalies
Darcy Kuemper (13-11-4, 2.55 GAA, .917 SV%, 4 SO) vs. Karel Vejmelka (11-16-4, 3.33 GAA, .902 SV%, 2 SO)
Kuemper allowed 3 goals on 30 shots in Monday’s road victory against the New York Islanders. He is a solid 3-2-1 with a 2.80 GAA and .908 SV% with a shutout in 6 January outings. Kuemper lost in the 1st meeting against Arizona in D.C., allowing 3 goals on 26 shots in a 3-2 loss Nov. 5.
Vejmelka was the winning tender in that 1st meeting, allowing just 2 goals on 36 shots. It’s all gone south in a hurry for Vejmelka since the calendar flipped to 2023, going 0-6-0 with a 4.11 GAA and .881 SV% in 6 January outings.
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Capitals at Coyotes picks and predictions
Prediction
Coyotes 3, Capitals 2
Moneyline
The COYOTES (+180) are worth playing as moderate ‘dogs at home, no pun intended.
Arizona’s offense has been skidding lately, and it has provided Vejmelka with just 12 goals of offensive support in his 6 January starts. He has to be better, but so does the offense. It should be against Washington, a team it beat earlier in the season. The value is on the home side.
If you’re like a little insurance, and just can’t be the underdog straight up, COYOTES +1.5 (-150) isn’t priced terribly out of line. Plus, Arizona has won just once in the last 3 outings, but it has covered the puck line in each of the outings, all 1-goal games.
UNDER 6.5 (-130) is the strongest play on the board, especially with how Arizona has failed to light the lamp lately.
The Under has hit in 5 of the last 7 games overall for the Coyotes, while cashing at a 7-3 clip in the last 10 against Metropolitan Division foes.
The Under is 3-0-1 in the last 4 for the Caps against Western Conference teams, too, while going 15-5-1 in the last 21 against the Central Division.
And, in this series, the Under has cashed in 4 straight meetings, while going 5-2 in the last 7 battles in the desert.
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