We have a small late of NHL games tonight as we just have two matchups. The first being a Eastern Division rivalry between two playoff bound teams, the Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals. The second matchup is a little less exciting as the Vancouver Canucks travel Winnipeg to take on the Jets. Lets take a look at the Bruins vs the Caps and breakdown the matchup and pick.
Boston Bruins (+140) @ Washington Capitals (-160)
We have a playoff preview in tonight’s game as the Boston Bruins travel to the nation’s capital to take on Washington. This game means absolutely nothing for either side as the seeding has already been set. The series between Boston and Washington will start this Saturday night.
The Capitals have confirmed they’re starting Vitek Vanecek who has a 3-3 record and 3.19 GAA in the six games he’s faced Boston this year. Opposite of Vanecek the Bruins are starting Jeremy Swayman, a young goalie who has been great all year. He enters the game with a 7-2 record in 9 games played with a 1.44 GAA. He’s faced the Capitals once this year where he picked up the win in a 4-2 game.
The Boston Bruins are red hot entering this matchup and are clicking on all cylinders. The Bruins however have struggled in the second leg of back to back games. The line opened -115 for Washington and has shifted all the way to -160 (61.5%). This is the highest line for the Capitals in all of their matchups this year. The goalie matchup is the biggest factor for me here, I think the Bruins have the edge and despite back to back games I think the Bruins are just playing better hockey than the Capitals.
Pick: Boston Bruins +140 (Risk 1.00 Units)
Year to Date Record: 0-3 (-3.70 Units)
