The Washington Capitals (39-19-6) visit the Minnesota Wild (32-25-7) for a Sunday night (8 p.m. ET) battle on the ice at the Xcel Energy Center. We analyze the Capitals-Wild odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips around this matchup.
Capitals at Wild: Projected starting goalies
Braden Holtby vs. Devan Dubnyk
Holtby owns a 3.12 goals-against average and .897 save percentage through 44 games. The Capitals’ 30-year-old netminder is coming off a decent February (.900 SV%) after scuffling in December and January (.876 SV%). He’s logged a fine .928 SV% over his last four road starts. Holtby hasn’t played since Feb. 25; he has struggled in recent road starts on extra rest. Over his last four starts with three-plus days off and playing away from home, he’s registered a mere .865 SV%.
Dubnyk is the expected starter for Sunday, with running mate Alex Stalock coming off three straight starts. The 33-year-old has appeared in 29 games this season, posting a 3.34 GAA and .892 SV%. Dubnyk has notched a .905 SV% over his last four starts; three of his four foes in those games — Colorado, Vancouver, and St. Louis — rank in the top third of the NHL in scoring. And that’s the neighborhood Washington operates in: the Caps’ 3.41 goals per game average ranks fourth in the league.
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Capitals at Wild: Odds, picks and betting tips
Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Sunday at noon ET.
Prediction
Washington 4, Minnesota 2
Moneyline (ML)
The Caps are the better hockey club, but the Wild appear to be playing better of late. Minnesota is 5-1, allowing just 27.3 shots on goal per game, over its last six. Washington has slogged its way to a 6-8-1 record since the all-star break. The Capitals are 2-4-1 over their last seven games.
Puck-possession analytics reveal expected regression on both sides of those recent trends. But WASHINGTON -134 isn’t enough of a discount on a straight-up bet. PASS.
New to sports betting? A $10 wager on the Capitals to win straight up would return a profit of $7.46.
Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
Minnesota loses by two-plus goals a bit more often than does the average team. The WASHINGTON -1.5 (+180) proposition offers the best value of these three plays.
Over/Under (O/U)
The Wild are coming off scoring a combined 12 goals over their last two games. Although a borderline play with limited value, the OVER 5.5 (-134) is the lean here.
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