PREMIUM
Rogers' 10* TOTAL DOMINATION >> Capitals @ Penguins!
(NHL) Washington vs. Pittsburgh,
Total: 5.50 | -120.00 Over
Result: Win
Total: 5.50 | -120.00 Over
Result: Win
The set-up: The Penguins seem on a fast track toward a second consecutive Stanley Cup title, which would be the fifth in team history. The Pens won both Games 1 and 2 at the Verizon Center against the Caps, as the Presidents' Trophy winners seem headed on down an all-too-familiar path. The perennially underachieving Capitals will be on the brink of elimination without a win in Monday's Game 3 at PPG Paints Arena.
Washington: "Absolutely. Why would you think otherwise?" head coach Barry Trotz said Sunday of the starting status of No. 1 goalie Braden Holtby. He won last year's Vezina Trophy and is a finalist again this season. "There's no question he's our goaltender. We expect him to start (Monday)." However, has yielded six goals on 35 shots for a 3.67 goals-against average and .829 save percentage in this series. He was pulled in Game 2, after Pittsburgh took a 3-1 lead. "We're not going to shy away from it. We're going to go there and see what we're made of," veteran forward Justin Williams said on the heels of Saturday's 6-2 setback. That said, the Caps were only able to score two goals in each of the first two home games of this series, while Pittsburgh netted nine!
Pittsburgh: Penguins forward Jake Guentzel recorded a three-point performance in Saturday's lopsided victory, with his two goals giving him an NHL-best seven in his first seven playoff games, putting the rookie alongside Maurice "Rocket" Richard (10, 1943-44) and Dino Ciccarelli (seven, 1980-81), as the lone players to accomplish the feat. Phil Kessel led the NHL in points last postseason and finds himself among the leaders once again in 2017. Kessel scored two goals and set up another in Game 2 to increase his point total to 11, which trails only teammate Evgeni Malkin (13). Malkin joined fellow former Hart Trophy winner Sidney Crosby in collecting a goal and an assist in Game 2, with the latter recording 11 points (four goals, seven assists) during his six-game points streak.
The pick: Pittsburgh goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury is 6-1 this postseason and has stopped 67 of 71 shots (.944 save percentage) in this series. Can the Caps really "get their act together" here in Pittsburgh, where the Pens are 36-6-4 on the season? That may be a stretch but note that despite his shaky play this series, Holtby is a quality goalie. He was pulled in Game 2 but expect a bounce-back effort from him here. After all, he registered a 3-1-0 mark with one shutout, with a 2.27 GAA and .922 save percentage in four games after being pulled this season. Make the Under a 10* play.
Washington: "Absolutely. Why would you think otherwise?" head coach Barry Trotz said Sunday of the starting status of No. 1 goalie Braden Holtby. He won last year's Vezina Trophy and is a finalist again this season. "There's no question he's our goaltender. We expect him to start (Monday)." However, has yielded six goals on 35 shots for a 3.67 goals-against average and .829 save percentage in this series. He was pulled in Game 2, after Pittsburgh took a 3-1 lead. "We're not going to shy away from it. We're going to go there and see what we're made of," veteran forward Justin Williams said on the heels of Saturday's 6-2 setback. That said, the Caps were only able to score two goals in each of the first two home games of this series, while Pittsburgh netted nine!
Pittsburgh: Penguins forward Jake Guentzel recorded a three-point performance in Saturday's lopsided victory, with his two goals giving him an NHL-best seven in his first seven playoff games, putting the rookie alongside Maurice "Rocket" Richard (10, 1943-44) and Dino Ciccarelli (seven, 1980-81), as the lone players to accomplish the feat. Phil Kessel led the NHL in points last postseason and finds himself among the leaders once again in 2017. Kessel scored two goals and set up another in Game 2 to increase his point total to 11, which trails only teammate Evgeni Malkin (13). Malkin joined fellow former Hart Trophy winner Sidney Crosby in collecting a goal and an assist in Game 2, with the latter recording 11 points (four goals, seven assists) during his six-game points streak.
The pick: Pittsburgh goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury is 6-1 this postseason and has stopped 67 of 71 shots (.944 save percentage) in this series. Can the Caps really "get their act together" here in Pittsburgh, where the Pens are 36-6-4 on the season? That may be a stretch but note that despite his shaky play this series, Holtby is a quality goalie. He was pulled in Game 2 but expect a bounce-back effort from him here. After all, he registered a 3-1-0 mark with one shutout, with a 2.27 GAA and .922 save percentage in four games after being pulled this season. Make the Under a 10* play.
