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The Washington Capitals (43-15-8) and San Jose Sharks (18-40-9) will square off in a Saturday tilt at the SAP Center. Opening face-off — followed by another round of Ovi Watch — will be at 5 p.m. (ESPN+). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Capitals vs. Sharks odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Season series: Sharks lead 1-0
The Capitals are closing out a 3-game West Coast road swing. Washington is 1-1 on the trip They beat Anaheim 7-4 as -196 favorites Tuesday and were shut out 3-0 as +121 underdogs at the LA Kings 3-0 Thursday. C Alex Ovechkin has yet to score on the trip, though he did have 3 assists vs. the Ducks. Ovi, who last scored a goal 3 games ago — last Sunday at home vs. Seattle — heads into Saturday needing 9 goals to pass Wayne Gretzky and claim the NHL’s all-time scoring record. Ovechkin has 886, while the Great One finished his career with 894 goals.
The Sharks own the NHL’s lowest point percentage (.336), but they are coming off a 4-2 home victory over the Chicago Blackhawks Thursday and are 3-3-0 over their last six contests. RW Collin Graf scored twice as San Jose covered as a -120 home favorite with the total (6) pushing. The Sharks will be playing the fourth game of an 8-game home stand.
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Capitals at Sharks odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 4:42 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Capitals -275 (bet $275 to win $100) | Sharks +225 (bet $100 to win $225)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Capitals -1.5 (-102) | Sharks +1.5 (-118)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Capitals at Sharks projected goalies
Logan Thompson (28-4-5, 2.36 GAA, .916 SV%, 2 SO) vs. Alexandar Georgiev (13-22-1, 3.59 GAA, .876 SV%)
Even though he won, Thompson allowed 4 goals on 29 shots in the 3-goal win vs. Anaheim Tuesday. He was the losing goalie despite surrendering 1 regulation goal and an OT goal against 31 shots in a 2-1 setback at home to the Sharks Dec. 3 — San Jose was a +230 underdog. Thompson is 3-1-2 with a 1.81 GAA and a .937 SV% in 6 career outings vs. San Jose. There’s a chance Charlie Lindgren (15-11-3, 2.65 GAA, 8.99 SV%, 1 SO) could start. He stopped 24 of 27 shots in Thursday’s loss at the Kings. The Minnesota native owns a lackluster .874 SV% over his last 7 games.
Georgiev made 24 saves in the triumph over the ‘Hawks. The 29-year-old has struggled at home this season, allowing 13 goals over his previous 4 starts on home ice, and his SAP Center SV% is just .871. The Bulgarian is 7-5-1 with a 2.79 GAA and a .909 SV% in 13 career games vs. the Caps. G Mackenzie Blackwood, who was traded to Colorado in December, was the winning goalie in the Dec. 3 overtime victory.
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Capitals at Sharks picks and predictions
Prediction
Capitals 3, Sharks 2
Moneyline
No interest: PASS.
Puck line/Against the spread
Including the 2-1 Dec. 3 overtime win, the Sharks are 4-2-0 across their last half-dozen games against the Caps.
The Sharks have been solid since the 4 Nations break. They’ve been developing more quality 5-on-5 looks on offense while preventing the same at the other end. The Caps are playing well, but they appear to be too far out over their skis with expected goals and goals allowed compared to actual. Their 13% shooting percentage in 5-on-5 play figures to be ripe for regression.
A usually dangerous Washington power play is just 2-for-its-last-21, and the club is going through its first multi-game trip since late-January. The Sharks are 8-for-their-last-21 with the man advantage.
FanDuel Sportsbook has a value price here. Peg the SHARKS +1.5 (-114) as the value side of this one.
Over/Under
The Under is 6-1 in the last 7 Caps-Sharks games.
The numbers for this one are a mixed bag, but figure the UNDER 6.5 (-115) as being a slight lean.
Ovechkin: Anytime goal
FanDuel Sportsbook lists Ovechkin at -105 for scoring a goal Saturday. He was held shotless Thursday and has been held under-4 shots in 3 of his last 4 games. A price higher than -110 should be avoided.
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