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The Washington Capitals (39-31-11) visit the Philadelphia Flyers (38-32-11) to wrap up their regular seasons at Wells Fargo Center Tuesday. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Capitals vs. Flyers odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Season series: Tied 1-1
This is essentially a play-in game, with some other factors in play to determine a playoff berth. What is clear, though, is that a Flyers loss means they’d be eliminated. A Flyers win in regulation, overtime or a shootout gives Philly a chance, but they also need Montreal to beat Detroit in regulation, and the New York Islanders must also beat the Pittsburgh Penguins in regulation to get the Fly Guys into the dance.
For Washington, it simply needs to win, like it did 2-0 against the Boston Bruins Monday night, and it is into the postseason.
The Capitals won 5-2 in most recent meetings March 1 in D.C., but the Flyers won 4-3 in a shootout at Wells Fargo Center Dec. 14 as favorites (-125) as the Over (6) cashed.
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Capitals at Flyers odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:15 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Capitals +120 (bet $100 to win $120) | Flyers -145 (bet $145 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Capitals +1.5 (-210) | Flyers -1.5 (+170)
- Over/Under: 5.5 (O: -120 | U: +100)
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Capitals at Flyers projected goalies
Charlie Lindgren (24-16-7, 2.71 GAA, .910 SV%, 6 SO) vs. Samuel Ersson (23-18-7, 2.86 GAA, .890 SV%, 4 SO)
The 30-year-old Lakeville, Minn. native has really saved the bacon of Washington this season, getting it to the brink of the postseason in a season it wasn’t expected to compete. He posted a 16-save shutout against the Bruins Monday, and it’s likely he is tasked with the start in a back-to-back, rather than leaning upon the more shaky Darcy Kuemper.
Ersson is confirmed to start, and he has also been a revelation for the Flyers. He has won back-to-back starts, including a 20-save shutout in a 1-0 win against the New Jersey Devils Saturday last time out. He did allow 5 goals on just 21 shots in a loss at Washington March 1, but he stopped 27 of 30 shots he faced in a 4-3 SOW at home Dec. 14 against the Caps, too.
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Capitals at Flyers picks and predictions
Prediction
Capitals 3, Flyers 2
Moneyline
The CAPITALS (+120) are worth a look on the road in what is essentially a play-in game. It certainly is a play-in for Washington, as a win and it’s in. It’s a little more complicated for the Flyers (-145).
Washington came up huge in a shutout victory against Boston, and it might not make a deep run into the postseason, but nobody wants to face the likes of Alexander Ovechkin and a red-hot Lindgren, who had 6 shutouts this season.
Puck line/Against the spread
The Capitals +1.5 (-210) will cost you more than 2 times your potential return, should you require a little bit of insurance. If you’re a little more on the conservative side, this is just too much. Back Washington on the moneyline, or simply AVOID.
Over/Under
UNDER 5.5 (+100) is a strong value at even-money.
While, yes, the Over has cashed in each of the 2 regular-season meetings this season, there is a lot more on the line Tuesday, and scoring will be at a premium.
The Under is on a 4-0-3 run for the Capitals in the past 7 games while cashing in the past 2 games for the Flyers. In fact, after an ugly 8-game stretch from March 24-April 9 which saw Philly allow 4 or more goals in each outing, Ersson and the Flyers have allowed just 1 goal in the past 2 games.
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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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