New York Islanders at Washington Capitals odds, picks and prediction

Previewing Thursday’s New York Islanders at Washington Capitals NHL betting odds and lines, with hockey picks, tips and predictions.

The Washington Capitals (4-0-3) and New York Islanders (3-3-0) play the second game of their two-game set at Capital One Arena Thursday. Puck drop will be at 7 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Islanders-Capitals NHL odds and lines, with picks and predictions.

Islanders at Capitals: Odds, spread and lines

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:50 p.m. ET.

Money line: Islanders -115 (bet $115 to win $100) | Capitals +100 (bet $100 to win $100)
Against the spread/ATS: Islanders -1.5 (+230) | Capitals +1.5 (-275)
Over/Under: 5.5 (O: +120 | U: -140)

Islanders at Capitals: Projected starting goalies

Semyon Varlamov (3-1-0, .966 SV%, 1.00 GAA) vs. Vitek Vanecek (3-0-2, .918 SV%, 2.70 GAA)

Varlamov is holding off rookie Ilya Sorokin, who had been considered a favorite for the Calder Trophy. The veteran started the season with back-to-back shutouts but allowed 3 goals on 37 shots in a loss to the Caps Tuesday. He was 1-2-0 in three games against Washington last year.

Vanecek will continue to carry the load with starter Ilya Samsonov sidelined by the NHL’s COVID-19 protocols. The rookie from the Czech Republic stopped 32 of the 34 shots he faced in Tuesday’s win.

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Islanders at Capitals: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks

Prediction

Islanders 3, Capitals 2

Money line (ML)

Let’s flip the script on Tuesday’s 3-2 Capitals victory. Both teams should continue to emphasize defensive play and there’s no reason to expect anything than what we’ve seen thus far from these two goaltenders.

Take the ISLANDERS (-115) as moderate road favorites against a now-desperately shorthanded Caps side. C Nicklas Backstrom (undisclosed) and C Lars Eller (undisclosed) were unable to finish Tuesday’s game. They could join RW Tom Wilson (lower body) on the sideline. LW Alex Ovechkin, C Evgeny Kuznetsov and D Dmitry Orlov also remain in the COVID protocols with Samsonov.

Against the spread (ATS)

Washington controlled puck possession Tuesday with a Corsi For percentage of 58.04% at 5-on-5 and New York is 30th for the season with a CF% of just 44.47.

Varlamov continues to shoulder the burden and compensate for his team’s possession struggles. He gets the edge in net, but Vanecek has proven to be a fully capable NHL netminder and is keeping third-string veteran Craig Anderson on the bench.

PASS on CAPITALS +1.5 (-275). I was OK paying up on the Caps at (-250) for 1 goal of insurance in the event of a loss but not at this price.

Over/Under (O/U)

The UNDER 5.5 (-140) is certainly the safer side, largely due to the Capitals’ injury and COVID troubles. Additionally, the Islanders are 0-6 against the O/U thus far, and their games average a league-low 3.67 total goals.

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New York Islanders at Washington Capitals odds, picks and prediction

Previewing Tuesday’s New York Islanders at Washington Capitals NHL betting odds and lines, with hockey picks, tips and predictions.

The New York Islanders (3-2-0) visit the Washington Capitals (3-0-3) Tuesday at Capital One Arena for a 7 p.m. ET puck drop. Below, we analyze the Islanders-Capitals odds and lines, with picks and predictions.

Islanders at Capitals: Odds, spread and lines

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:38 a.m. ET.

Money line: Islanders -130 (bet $130 to win $100) | Capitals +110 (bet $100 to win $110)
Against the spread/ATS: Islanders -1.5 (+200) | Capitals +1.5 (-250)
Over/Under: 5.5 (O: +105 | U: -125)

Islanders at Capitals: Projected starting goalies

Semyon Varlamov (3-0-0, 0.33 GAA, .988 SV%, 2 SO) at Vitek Vanecek (2-0-2, 2.87 GAA, .912 SV%)

Varlamov has been near perfect so far this season. He has allowed just one goal on 82 shots, a goal to New Jersey Devils RW Nathan Bastian in a 4-1 victory Thursday. He blanked the Boston Bruins Jan. 18, and he blanked the Rangers in his season debut Jan. 14.

Vanecek is getting an opportunity to shine with G Ilya Samsonov down for the count due to COVID-19. The latter is expected back sometime in the upcoming week, but the way Vanecek has played since holding down the fort, the backup likely has played himself into at least a timeshare once Samsonov returns.

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Islanders at Capitals: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks

Prediction

Islanders 3, Capitals 2

Money line (ML)

The ISLANDERS (-130) have been crushing it with Varlamov in the crease. Head coach Barry Trotz would love to stick it to his former employer in the Capitals, who he coached 2014-18. In four regular-season games last season between the Isles and Caps, the road team went a perfect 4-0, before New York eliminated Washington 4-1 in the first round of the playoffs.

Against the spread (ATS)

These games are generally very close. Four of the eight meetings last season, including the postseason, were one-goal games. The Islanders -1.5 (+200) are a tempting play, as you could double up if they win by 2 or more goals, but AVOID and focus on the money line.

Over/Under (O/U)

UNDER 5.5 (-125) will cost you a little extra, but it’s worth a wager based upon how well Varlamov has been playing. Vanecek has been decent, too, but if the Over occurs here, it will be on the young Washington tendy, not Varly.

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Buffalo Sabres at Washington Capitals odds, picks and prediction

Previewing Sunday’s Buffalo Sabres at Washington Capitals NHL betting odds and lines, with hockey picks, tips and predictions.

The Buffalo Sabres (1-3-1) are on the road to face the Washington Capitals (3-0-2) for a 3 p.m. ET puck drop Sunday. Below, we analyze the Sabres-Capitals odds and lines, with picks and predictions.

Sabres at Capitals: Odds, spread and lines

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 10:42 p.m. ET.

Money line: Sabres -130 (bet $130 to win $100) | Capitals +110 (bet $100 to win $110)
Against the spread/ATS: Sabres -1.5 (+200) | Capitals +1.5 (-250)
Over/Under: 6 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Sabres at Capitals: Projected starting goalies

Linus Ullmark (0-1-1, 2.44 GAA, .906 SV%) at Vitek Vanecek (2-0-1, 2.90 GAA, .898 SV%)

Ullmark is expected to be the starter in the second end of the back-to-back with G Carter Hutton dealing with an injury and unlikely to be ready. Ullmark kept the Sabres in Friday’s opener in D.C., allowing three goals on 32 shots in a 4-3 shootout loss.

Vanecek allowed three goals on 27 shots in the shootout win, shutting down the Sabres for the final 21:11 of regulation and overtime, too. His save against C Sam Reinhart in the shootout sealed the victory. Vanecek started in place of G Ilya Samsonov, who is away from the team due to COVID-19 protocol.

Sabres at Capitals: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks

Prediction

Sabres 4, Capitals 3

Money line (ML)

The SABRES (-130) came up short by a 4-3 count Friday despite the fact the Capitals were without LW Alex Ovechkin, C Evgeny Kuznetsov and D Dmitry Orlov due to contact tracing.

If you bet the Sabres Friday and were stung in the shootout, you have to forget about it and roll the dice on them again. It’s a golden opportunity for the Sabres to pick up a road win with the Caps missing two of their top players and their No. 1 netminder.

Against the spread (ATS)

The Sabres -1.5 (+200) are a tempting play if you want to try to double up, but let’s just focus on them getting the win first. They’ll have a hard enough time doing that, let alone winning by 2 goals. Friday’s result left a sour taste in my mouth, personally. I know you’re supposed to take it game-by-game and forget about a tough loss, but sometimes it’s hard to forget when the wound is still fresh. AVOID.

Over/Under (O/U)

OVER 6 (-110) is the lean in this rematch as the Sabres look to return the favor. The Over is 4-1-1 in the past six meetings in the nation’s capital, including Friday’s total of 7 goals. And we don’t exactly have Dominik Hasek vs. Olaf Kolzig in net for this one, either.

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Buffalo Sabres at Washington Capitals odds, picks and prediction

Previewing Friday’s Buffalo Sabres at Washington Capitals NHL betting odds and lines, with hockey picks, tips and predictions.

The Buffalo Sabres (1-3-0) and Washington Capitals (2-0-2) square off Friday for a 7 p.m. ET puck drop at Capital One Arena. Below, we analyze the Sabres-Capitals NHL odds and lines, with picks and predictions.

Sabres at Capitals: Odds, spread and lines

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:40 a.m. ET.

Money line: Sabres -130 (bet $130 to win $100) | Capitals +110 (bet $100 to win $110)
Against the spread/ATS: Sabres -1.5 (+200) | Capitals +1.5 (-250)
Over/Under: 6 (O: +100 | U: -120)

Sabres at Capitals: Projected starting goalies

Linus Ullmark (0-1-0, .905 SV%, 2.07 GAA) vs. Vitek Vanecek (1-0-1, .902 SV%, 2.97 GAA)

Ullmark is back traveling with the team after the death of his father, and he could be thrust into action in both meetings in D.C. with Carter Hutton dealing with an upper-body injury.

Regular No. 1 Ilya Samsonov reportedly tested positive for COVID-19, so Vanecek is expected to get the starting nod. He won’t have Alex Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov or Dmitry Orlov in front of him. They were also placed on the COVID-19 list.

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Sabres at Capitals: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks

Prediction

Sabres 3, Capitals 2

Money line (ML)

The SABRES (-130) are catching a big break with Ovie and Kuznetsov out of the lineup. Take advantage of the situation and back the team at full staff.

Against the spread (ATS)

A bet on the Sabres -1.5 (+200) is awfully tempting, and perhaps playing it very, very lightly isn’t a bad move. I am just not sure I feel good about Buffalo to win by two with Ullmark in the crease, as he is thrust into action following an emotional roller coaster on the personal side.

I’ll PASS, but playing it lightly isn’t the end of the world since the big guns for the Caps are on the shelf.

Over/Under (O/U)

UNDER 6 (-120) is a good play at even-money, even though Buffalo ranks sixth in the NHL with 3.7 goals per game, and they’re 20th defensively with 3.0 GPG allowed. Still, Washington is shorthanded and might struggle to put the biscuit in the basket.

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Washington Capitals at Pittsburgh Penguins odds, picks and prediction

Previewing Tuesday’s Washington Capitals at Pittsburgh Penguins NHL betting odds and lines, with hockey picks, tips and predictions.

The Pittsburgh Penguins (1-2-0) and Washington Capitals (2-0-1) play for the second time in three days at PPG Paints Arena Tuesday. The puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Capitals-Penguins NHL betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.

The Penguins snuck out a 4-3 shootout win Sunday. Penguins LW Jake Guentzel scored the shootout winner after the Pens came back from a 2-1 deficit after 40 minutes.

Capitals at Penguins: Betting odds, spread and lines

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:31 p.m. ET.

Money line: Capitals +115 (bet $100 to win $115) | Penguins -135 (bet $135 to win $100)
Against the spread/ATS: Capitals +1.5 (-250) | Penguins -1.5 (+190)
Over/Under: 6.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)

Capitals at Penguins: Projected starting goalies

Ilya Samsonov (1-0-1, .868 SV%, 3.36 GAA) vs. Casey DeSmith (1-0-0, .889 SV%, 2.13 GAA)

Samsonov hasn’t looked sharp to begin the season after posting a .913 save percentage and 2.55 goals against average in his 26-game 2019-20 rookie season. One of his 3 regulation goals allowed Sunday came on a poor puck-handling miscue.

DeSmith is projected to start again after being in net for the shootout win over the Caps Sunday. He stopped 20 of 23 shots in regulation and overtime, and he has looked sharper than Tristan Jarry in the early going.

Capitals at Penguins: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks

Prediction

Capitals 4, Penguins 2

Money line (ML)

Both teams registered 32 total shot attempts, including blocked and missed shots at full strength Sunday, but the Penguins had 20 scoring chances at 5-on-5 to 15 for the Capitals. Washington went 1-for-4 on the power play and Pittsburgh was 0-for-5 Sunday to drop to 2-for-13 on the season.

Samsonov should provide the Capitals with a significant edge in the goaltending battle. He was 10-2-1 on the road last season with a .911 SV% and 2.55 GAA. Take the value with the underdog CAPITALS (+115) while counting on their goalie to clean up some early-season mistakes.

Against the spread (ATS)

Take a chance on the alternate line of CAPITALS -1.5 (+280). The Penguins lost their first two games of the season against the rival Philadelphia Flyers by scores of 6-3 and 5-2. Goaltending, and defense have been glaring trouble areas thus far.

Washington has scored 9 goals through three games and will finish its early-season road trip on a high note before returning home for six straight games.

Over/Under (O/U)

Lean to the UNDER 6.5 (-105). These teams are familiar with one another and needed a shootout to top this projection Sunday. Defensive play should be starting to round into form three games into the season.

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Washington Capitals at Pittsburgh Penguins odds, picks and prediction

Previewing Sunday’s Washington Capitals at Pittsburgh Penguins NHL betting odds and lines, with hockey picks, tips and predictions.

The Washington Capitals (2-0-0) and Pittsburgh Penguins (0-2-0) open a two-game set Sunday afternoon with a noon ET puck drop at PPG Paints Arena. Below, we analyze the Capitals-Penguins NHL betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.

Capitals at Penguins: Betting odds, spread and lines

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:25 a.m. ET.

Money line: Capitals +105 (bet $100 to win $105) | Penguins -125 (bet $125 to win $100)
Against the spread/ATS: Capitals +1.5 (-250) | Penguins -1.5 (+200)
Over/Under: 6 (O: +100 | U: -120)

Capitals at Penguins: Projected starting goalies

Ilya Samsonov (1-0, .846 SV%, 4.00 GAA) vs. Casey DeSmith (0-0, .923 SV%, 1.26 GAA)

Samsonov stopped 22 of 26 pucks in his 2021 debut Thursday at the Buffalo Sabres. The second-year NHL netminder faced the Pens once last season and allowed four goals (all even-strength) on 33 shots.

DeSmith closed out Friday’s 5-2 loss at the Philadelphia Flyers after starting G Tristan Jarry was lifted after allowing three goals in 11 minutes. The relief stint marked the 29-year-old’s first NHL action since 2019. DeSmith owns a .917 SV in 51 career games.

Capitals at Penguins: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks

Prediction

Penguins 4, Capitals 3

Money line (ML)

Play to some gravity here, taking the quality 0-2 team against the quality 2-0 team. Shot and puck-possession analytics indicate the Caps are a bit too far out over their skis and the Pens are at the other end of the luck spectrum.

Last season, Pittsburgh had four home games on the heels of consecutive losses. The Penguins went 4-0 in those contests, posting a goal differential of plus-15 along the way.

BACK THE PENGUINS (-125).

Against the spread (ATS)

Consider adding a PENGUINS -1.5 (+200) puck-line play as a partial-unit rider alongside a full-unit money-line wager. This tag has swung toward Pittsburgh by 30 cents overnight. Perhaps wait out a possible move to a better price or just stick with the ML play.

Over/Under (O/U)

Peg a slight lean on the OVER 6.5 (+100), but a PASS is recommended.

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Washington Capitals at Buffalo Sabres odds, picks and prediction

Previewing Friday’s Washington Capitals at Buffalo Sabres NHL betting odds and lines, with hockey picks, tips and predictions.

The Buffalo Sabres (0-1-0) play host to the Washington Capitals (1-0-0) in the second half of their season-opening back-to-back Friday. Puck drop at KeyBank Center will be at 7 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Capitals-Sabres NHL betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.

The Capitals opened the 2021 NHL season with a 6-4 victory Thursday. Ten different players notched a goal.

Capitals at Sabres: Betting odds, spread and lines

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:14 a.m. ET.

Money line: Capitals -135 (bet $135 to win $100) | Sabres +115 (bet $100 to win $115)
Against the spread/ATS: Capitals -1.5 (+195) | Sabres +1.5 (-250)
Over/Under: 6 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Capitals at Sabres: Projected starting goalies

Ilya Samsonov (1-0-0, .846 SV%, 4.00 GAA) vs. Linus Ullmark (2019-20 stats: 17-14-3, .915 SV%, 2.69 GAA)

Samsonov figures to get the bulk of the starts for the Capitals this season, his second in the NHL. He went 16-6-2 with a .913 save percentage and 2.55 goals against average while backing up Braden Holtby (now with the Vancouver Canucks) in his 2019-20 rookie season. He stopped 22 of 26 shots Thursday.

Ullmark should draw in to replace Carter Hutton, who allowed five goals on 27 shots Thursday. Ullmark enters his sixth season with the Sabres with a career save percentage of .911 and a 2.81 GAA.

Capitals at Sabres: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks

Prediction

Capitals 5, Sabres 2

Money line (ML)

The CAPITALS (-135) come at a fine price to complete the back-to-back sweep of the Sabres. Buffalo is expected to make a major stride forward this season, but the early schedule isn’t doing any favors. The Sabres will next head on the road for two games against the Philadelphia Flyers and another back-to-back against the Capitals in Washington, D.C.

Washington outshot Buffalo 23-17 through two periods and was up 4-2 after 40 minutes Thursday. The Sabres had pulled within one, but the Caps got a late empty-netter from RW Garnet Hathaway to seal the two-goal win.

Against the spread (ATS)

Get better value with the CAPITALS -1.5 (+195) by backing them to win by at least 2 goals. It took an empty-netter to do so Thursday, but the game was never really in question and Buffalo never held a lead.

We should expect a stronger performance from Samsonov if he does start once again. The Sabres are more likely to pivot to the lesser half of their goaltending tandem.

Over/Under (O/U)

Take the OVER 6 (-110). The Capitals and Sabres hit this number within the first 39 minutes Thursday and even sloppier play should be expected in the second of back-to-back games.

The Sabres hadn’t played since March 9 before Thursday and playing two nights in a row right off the start of the season will be a big test.

Want some action on this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

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