PREMIUM
Rogers' Thursday TRIPLE THREAT
(NHL) Columbus vs. Washington,
Total: 5.50 | 104.00 Over
Result: Loss
Total: 5.50 | 104.00 Over
Result: Loss
The set-up: The 49-26-7 Washington Capitals didn't win the Presidents' Trophy this season (entered the season off back-to-back wins) but the team's 105 points were enough for them to capture their third consecutive Metropolitan Division title. Few teams can match the regular-season success of the Washington Capitals over the past few year but Alex Ovechkin and company are more concerned with erasing a lengthy history of playoff flops. The Capitals have not been to the Stanley Cup Final since 1998 and have been drummed out of the playoffs in the second round in each of the past three seasons. Washington will face a familiar rival when it hosts the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight in Game 1 of their first-round series.The 45-30-7 Blue Jackets finished eight points behind Washington,after closing on a 13-2-2 run to reach the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time as the East's No. 1 wild card team. However, Columbus has never won a postseason series.
Columbus: The Blue Jackets were unable to get their offense untracked for much of the season but a trio of trade-deadline acquisitions were vital in the late-season surge. Columbus picked up orwards Thomas Vanek, Mark Letestu and defenseman Ian Cole. Columbus averaged more than a goal per game following the deals. Columbus will also need to rely on two-time Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky, who has notched 78 wins over the past two seasons but was 1-3-0 with a 3.04 goals-against average and .868 save percentage versus the Capitals this season.
Washington: Ovechkin rebounded from a 33-goal campaign in 2016-17 to score 49 this season, claiming his seventh Rocket Richard Trophy (player with the most goals). However, hanging over his head is that he also is one of seven players in this postseason to appear in 1,000 games and have not win the Stanley Cup. However, the Russian standout is storyline No. 2 for Washington following the decision by head coach Barry Trotz to bypass longtime No. 1 netminder Braden Holtby in favor of backup Philipp Grubauer, who will make only his second postseason start in Game 1. Grubauer went 7-3-0 with a 2.31 goals-against average down the stretch.
The pick: Considering Washington's longstanding playoff flops, who can blame Trotz for his Game 1 decision, especially with Grubauer playing so well. Bobrovsky's 3-10 playoff record (3.63 GAA and .887 save percentage) is somewhat concerning but I'm still saying make the Under an 8* play.
Columbus: The Blue Jackets were unable to get their offense untracked for much of the season but a trio of trade-deadline acquisitions were vital in the late-season surge. Columbus picked up orwards Thomas Vanek, Mark Letestu and defenseman Ian Cole. Columbus averaged more than a goal per game following the deals. Columbus will also need to rely on two-time Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky, who has notched 78 wins over the past two seasons but was 1-3-0 with a 3.04 goals-against average and .868 save percentage versus the Capitals this season.
Washington: Ovechkin rebounded from a 33-goal campaign in 2016-17 to score 49 this season, claiming his seventh Rocket Richard Trophy (player with the most goals). However, hanging over his head is that he also is one of seven players in this postseason to appear in 1,000 games and have not win the Stanley Cup. However, the Russian standout is storyline No. 2 for Washington following the decision by head coach Barry Trotz to bypass longtime No. 1 netminder Braden Holtby in favor of backup Philipp Grubauer, who will make only his second postseason start in Game 1. Grubauer went 7-3-0 with a 2.31 goals-against average down the stretch.
The pick: Considering Washington's longstanding playoff flops, who can blame Trotz for his Game 1 decision, especially with Grubauer playing so well. Bobrovsky's 3-10 playoff record (3.63 GAA and .887 save percentage) is somewhat concerning but I'm still saying make the Under an 8* play.
