The Pittsburgh Penguins (24-15-8) travel to meet the Washington Capitals (25-19-6) Thursday at Capital One Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. (ESPN+). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Penguins vs. Capitals odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Penguins picked up a wild 7-6 overtime victory against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday. It was the 4th time in the last 5 games Pittsburgh needed OT to determine a winner, splitting the 4 outings.
The Capitals dropped a pair of games at Vegas and Colorado to close out a 3-game Western Conference road trip, and it is just 2-5 in the last 7 games.
The Pens topped the Caps 4-1 on Nov. 9 in Washington D.C. as the Under connected.
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Penguins at Capitals odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:22 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Penguins -105 (bet $105 to win $100) | Capitals -115 (bet $115 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Penguins +1.5 (-250) | Capitals -1.5 (+200)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: +105 | U: -125)
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Penguins at Capitals projected goalies
Casey DeSmith (7-9-3, 3.34 GAA, .900 SV%) vs. Darcy Kuemper (14-13-4, 2.57 GAA, .916 SV%, 5 SO)
DeSmith, the New Hampshire native, is expected to start. He has seen the Pens go to OT in each of his last 3 starts, winning 2 of those outings. He also made 24 saves on 25 shots in a 4-1 win in Washington on Nov. 9.
Kuemper was on the short end of that loss to the Pens and DeSmith in early November. He has dropped the last 2 starts, but he has managed a 4-4-1 record, 2.80 GAA and .906 SV% with 2 SO in 9 January outings.
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Penguins at Capitals picks and predictions
Prediction
Capitals 4, Penguins 2
Moneyline
The CAPITALS (-115) are a strong play here, as Washington looks to avenge a loss against Pittsburgh in the 1st of 3 regular-season meetings.
The Penguins are 1-7 in the last 8 road games, while going 2-8 in the last 10 games against Eastern Conference foes and 0-5 in the last 5 against Metropolitan Division opponents.
Puck line/Against the spread
The CAPITALS -1.5 (+200) are worth a roll of the dice for a chance to double up your potential return. As a favorite, Washington has posted a 1-4 record on the puck line in the last 5 tries, so there is some risk. Go lightly.
Over/Under
The UNDER 6.5 (-125) is the way to go in the nation’s capital.
The Under is 6-2-3 in the last 11 road games for the Penguins, while cashing at an 8-1-2 clip in the last 11 games against Metropolitan Division foes.
The Under is 3-0-1 in the last 4 games at home for Washington, while going 8-3 in the last 11 inside the Metro, too.
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