Penguins vs Capitals odds - Maturity will help Pens triumph in Game 7
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NHL picks don’t get any better than this, folks. The Penguins vs Capitals line, the series every hockey fan dreamed of for years, has been everything online sport betting fans hoped it would be. We’ve seen it all – hat tricks for Sid the Kid and Alexander the GR8, three overtime games, and a blinding pace throughout. Which team’s NHL odds look better for the final showdown?
Penguins vs Capitals odds: Game 7 may come down to experience
- Capitals must avoid dumb penalties
- Crosby will bring his “A” game
- A Mike Green sighting would go a long way for Washington
When you make your sportsbook picks for your typical NHL betting playoff series, it’s typical to look for the momentum advantage, but that principle simply doesn’t apply to the Penguins vs Capitals odds. After the Caps won two straight games to open the series, the Penguins rattled off three straight wins, two in overtime, without blinking. Then, when the Capitals odds were on the ropes, they turned around and stole an overtime win in Pittsburgh. Thus, we have to look for other, deeper trends in order to make our online sports bets here.
Trend #1: The superstars will show up. While Evgeni Malkin has been hot/cold in this series, don’t count on Sidney Crosby or Alexander Ovechkin disappearing in Game 7. Both players have been sensational in this NHL betting matchup; Crosby has six goals and 10 points against the Caps while Ovechkin has seven goals and 13 points against the Pens. Therefore the series likely won’t come down to which star rises to the occasion, since both stars are simply playing out of their minds right now.
Trend #2: The Capitals are taking penalties at crucial moments. The slightly younger, less experienced Caps sometimes let emotions get the better of them and it may seriously come back to bite them when it matters most. Brooks Laich took a slashing penalty with just over two minutes left in the third period of Game 6 and, while it didn’t burn the Capitals that time, it easily could next time if a Washington player loses his cool late in Game 7.
Trend #3: Goaltending won’t decide the series...or will it? Despite the odd hiccup, both Marc-Andre Fleury and Simeon Varlamov have been stalwarts for their teams throughout the playoffs. They’ve both shown great poise – Fleury because he’s been here before, and Varlamov perhaps because he’s too new to understand the significance of the NHL playoffs – and they shouldn’t be the X-factors in Game 7. Then again, we’ve still seen just a small sample of what Varlamov can do; there’s no telling when – or if – he could unravel.
Trend #4: Mike Green remains AWOL. Is it the stupid haircut? For whatever reason, All-World defender Mike Green’s offense has dried up in the playoffs, as he has one goal in 13 games after potting 31 in the regular season. With no “boomer” excelling at the point for the Caps right now, the Pens don’t have to respect Washington’s point shots and can key on the snipers instead.
DON’S PICK: NHL odds followers should definitely bet at the sportsbook for this to be another one-goal Game. In the end, the series will come down to who is better prepared to advance. The Penguins reached the Stanley Cup odds final last season and are ready to take the next step. For the Caps, reaching the second round means progress and their season is already a success. Bet on the Penguins to win Game 7 with a gritty road effort. Marc-Andre Fleury should be at his best, we know what Sid will do, and don’t be surprised if role players like Maxime Talbot, Jordan Staal and Tyler Kennedy pull off some magic.
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Who better to offer great sports betting and hockey tips than a native Canadian? Like any good Canuck, Don Melrose eats, sleeps, breathes and bets hockey, making him the perfect NHL handicapper. Thoughts or questions? Email Comments@BetOnline.com.
