The Washington Capitals (34-12-5) visit the Ottawa Senators (18-23-9) Friday in a clash of capital cities. Puck drop at Canadian Tire Center is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. We analyze the Capitals-Senators sports betting odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.
Capitals at Senators: Projected starting goalies
Ilya Samsonov vs. Craig Anderson
Samsonov, who’s officially the Capitals’ backup goaltender, got the win in each of his last 10 starts. The 22-year-old is 15-2-1 on the season with a .927 save percentage and NHL-best 2.06 goals against average through 16 starts and three relief appearances.
Anderson, who officially remains the Senators’ starter, is 7-12-1 through 21 starts and two relief appearances. The 38-year-old owns a .899 SV% and 3.25 GAA.
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Predators at Devils: Odds, picks and betting tips
Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 9 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Capitals 6, Senators 2
Moneyline (ML)
The CAPITALS (-208) are heavy road favorites, but they’re still well worth playing despite the chalk. This number should be much less profitable, with the Capitals having a significant advantage in every area of the ice, and especially in the goaltending matchup.
The Caps are 7-3-0 across their last 10 games and 19-6-1 on the road for the season. They lead the Metropolitan Division. The Sens are 12-8-5 on home ice for the season but just 2-4-4 across their last 10 games overall. The Capitals lost 5-4 to the Nashville Predators Wednesday, but they had won their previous four games. The Senators are coming off a 5-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres, but they had lost 10 of their previous 11 games.
New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Capitals to win in regulation, overtime or a shootout returns a profit of $4.80.
Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
The more profitable play is to back the CAPITALS (-1.5, +125) to win by at least 2 goals Friday. The Senators are 27-23 against the spread overall and 15-10 at home, while the Capitals are 27-24 ATS overall and 18-8 on the road. I’d even look at the alternate puck line of CAPITALS -2.5 (+220) for an even greater return, as the two teams aren’t in the same class.
Over/Under (O/U)
OVER 6.5 (+105). The Capitals will take care of this projected total nearly on their own. A goal or two from a Senators team that plays adequately on home ice will send Friday’s combined goal total soaring over the number.
Esten’s NHL betting record: 189-178
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