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The San Jose Sharks (0-7-1) travel to meet the Washington Capitals (3-3-1) Sunday at Capital One Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Sharks vs. Capitals odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Sharks were blanked in Raleigh by the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night, the team’s 2nd consecutive shutout loss. San Jose hasn’t cobbled together a goal in its last 7 periods of play.
The Capitals earned a 3-2 shootout win over the visiting Minnesota Wild on Friday night, their 2nd consecutive win. Washington is just 1-1 as a favorite this season.
The last time these teams met in D.C., the Sharks skated away with a 4-1 victory as underdogs (+154) while the Under (6.5) cashed on Super Bowl Sunday last season. The road team has won 4 straight in the series, and 8 of the previous 9 meetings.
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Sharks at Capitals odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:17 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Sharks +172 (bet $100 to win $172) | Capitals -210 (bet $210 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Sharks +1.5 (-142) | Capitals -1.5 (+116)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: +114 | U: -140)
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Sharks at Capitals projected goalies
Kaapo Kahkonen (0-3-0, 3.16 GAA, .907 SV%) vs. Darcy Kuemper (2-2-1, 3.29 GAA, .890 SV%)
Kahkonen deserved a better fate against Carolina on Friday. He shut everybody in a black sweater down except Hurricanes LW Teuvo Teravainen, who scored a power-play goal and 2 even-strength goals to provide the offense. If San Jose hadn’t been held scoreless in 7 straight periods, Kahkonen’s win-loss record might look much better.
Kuemper is confirmed for Sunday’s matinee game. He stopped a season-high 39 shots in Friday’s 3-2 SOW against the Wild, snapping an 0-2-1 skid where he allowed 13 goals on 74 shots.
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Sharks at Capitals picks and predictions
Prediction
Sharks 3, Capitals 2
The SHARKS (+172) are not only due to simply light the lamp, but this team is on track to get a win.
You can’t back the Capitals (-210), costing you more than 2 times your potential return. That’s too much risk and not enough reward. And oddly enough, the road team has won 8 of the past 9 meetings in this series, including 3 of the past 4 visits for San Jose to the nation’s capital.
Puck line/Against the spread
The SHARKS +1.5 (-142) are not priced out of line if you want a little insurance because you just cannot bring yourself to take a winless San Jose side straight up.
The Capitals -1.5 (+116) are 0-2 this season on the puck line as favorites, including last time out against the Wild.
Over/Under
UNDER 6.5 (-140) will cost you a little extra, but it’s worth it.
Again, San Jose hasn’t scored since the 2nd period 3 games ago in Florida. The Sharks are on a 3-0 Under run, while going 4-0-1 in the past 5 outings, and 6-1-1 in 8 games overall. Washington has hit the Under in 3 of the past 4 games and 5 of 7 outings overall this season.
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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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