The Pittsburgh Penguins (19-20-8) travel to face off against the Washington Capitals (30-10-5) on Saturday, January 18th. This game will be played at Capital One Arena in Washington and televised on ESPN+. The Penguins are coming off a win in their previous game, while the Capitals are looking to get back on track from a loss to the Hurricanes. Puck drop is set for 7:00 ET.
Penguins vs Capitals
The Pittsburgh Penguins Are Coming Off A Win
Pittsburgh moved closer to .500 with a 3-1 win over the Canadiens, improving their record to 19-20-8. The Penguins covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total of 4 goals fell short of the 6.5 goal line.
Sidney Crosby led the way with two goals, including one in the first period. The Canadiens scored in the third period to cut the lead to 2-1, but Blake Lizotte sealed the win with an empty-net goal.
The Washington Capitals Look To Bounce Back From A Loss
Washington’s 4-2 loss to the Hurricanes brought their record to 30-10-5. The Capitals initially trailed 1-0 but responded with two goals in the first period. However, the Hurricanes scored the final three goals, including an empty-netter, to secure the win.
The total for the game was set at 6 goals, and the combined score matched that number. Washington, as the underdog on the puck line, failed to cover. Their two goals came at the 19:16 and 19:49 marks of the first period.
Pittsburgh Offense Breakdown
Sidney Crosby led the Penguins’ offense with two goals in their 3-1 win over the Canadiens. He opened the scoring at 4:03 in the first period and added a second goal, his fifth of the season, on a power play at 1:20 in the second period. Blake Lizotte sealed the game with his second goal of the season, an empty-netter with 45 seconds left in the third period.
Pittsburgh fired 24 shots on goal and recorded 14 giveaways. The Penguins’ second goal came on the power play, with Kris Letang picking up his third assist of the season and Erik Karlsson adding his seventh.
Capitals Offense Breakdown
Alex Ovechkin netted his 7th goal of the season on a power play, while Brandon Duhaime followed with his 2nd goal. The Capitals took 21 shots on goal and recorded 15 giveaways in the game.
Ovechkin’s goal came at 0:44 in the first period, with John Carlson earning his 7th assist and Dylan Strome his 13th. Duhaime added another at 19:49 in the first, with Nic Dowd picking up his 2nd assist.
Pittsburgh Team Defense
On the defensive side, the Penguins will look to build on their previous performance, where they allowed just one goal to Montreal. Alex Nedeljkovic made 25 saves, finishing with a 96.2% save percentage. Pittsburgh’s defense also contributed 5 takeaways and 19 hits.
Washington Team Defense
Washington’s defense gave up the first goal 5:59 into the first period and three more after they went up 2-1. The Hurricanes scored at 2:29 and 5:26 of the 2nd period and added an empty netter with 9 seconds left in the 3rd. Charlie Lindgren made 41 saves with a 93.2% save percentage, but the defense allowed 44 shots on goal.
Penguins vs Capitals Trends
- In their last ten games away from home, the Penguins have a straight up record of 3-7 while going 6-4 vs the spread. The team’s offense averaged 3 goals per game in these contests.
- Through their last three home contests, the Capitals offense has averaged 2 goals per game while allowing an average of 1. Washington posted an overall record of 2-1 while going 1-2 ATS.
- In their last five games as the betting underdog, the Capitals have a strong straight up record of 3-2. In addition, their puck line record was 3-2 in these scenarios.
- In their last three games as the betting favorite, the Penguins have a straight up record of 1-2 and an puck line mark of 1-2.
Penguins vs Capitals Prediction
For those seeking a straight moneyline bet, the Capitals are the top choice. Nonetheless, with a payout of -217, you might want to use this bet as a part of a parlay to get better odds.
My recommended pick for the puck line is to take the Penguins to cover. Even if the Capitals win straight-up, this one should be close throughout and the Penguins should cover the puck line.
With an over/under line sitting at 6 goals, we like this game to surpass that mark and recommend getting a bet down on the over.
All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!
* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.
Last updated:January 18, 2025 Capitals, Penguins