The Washington Capitals and Boston Bruins play Game 3 of their Stanley Cup Playoffs first-round series Wednesday. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET at TD Garden. Below, we analyze the Capitals-Bruins odds and lines, with NHL picks and predictions.
The Capitals put up a good fight, but they were dropped 4-3 in overtime in Game 2 on home ice. Both games have ended up going to an extra session, so this series has had a razor-thin margin of error.
The Bruins bounced back in Game 2 with a 4-3 win in OT, as Brad Marchand won it just 39 seconds into the extra session to set a new franchise record for quickest overtime playoff goal.
Capitals at Bruins: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:30 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Capitals +135 (bet $100 to win $135) | Bruins -165 (bet $165 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Capitals +1.5 (-185) | Bruins -1.5 (+150)
- Over/Under: 5.5 (O: +100 | U: -120)
Capitals at Bruins: Projected starting goalies
Craig Anderson (2-1-0, 2.13 GAA, .915 SV%) vs. Tuukka Rask (15-5-2, 2.28 GAA, .913 SV%, 2 SO)
Anderson was tested early and often in Game 2, making 44 saves. That’s not bad for a 39-year-old that was expected to be the third-string goaltender. This will be his final start before he turns 40 Friday.
Rask allowed three goals on 39 shots, picking up the win after Nic Dowd beat him in overtime in Game 1 to saddle the veteran tendy with the loss. Rask was 7-2-1 with a 2.27 GAA and .908 SV% in 11 home starts in the regular season.
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Capitals at Bruins: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Bruins 4, Capitals 3
Money line (ML)
The BRUINS (-165) are moderate favorites at TD Garden in this pivotal Game 3, and they now enjoy home-ice advantage for the series after splitting in D.C. The B’s are 8-1 in the past nine at home, and 13-5 in their past 18 as a favorite.
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Against the spread (ATS)
The CAPITALS +1.5 (-185) are actually worth backing on the road. Both of the first two games in D.C. were decided in overtime. And Washington is 10-3 in their past 13 trips to Boston, so they usually play the B’s tough. The Caps are a little pricey, but they’re worth backing here.
Over/Under (O/U)
OVER 5.5 (+100) is worth a roll of the dice, and it’s a good value at even money. The Over is 4-1-2 in the past seven meetings in this series, including 1-0-1 in the first two installments.
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