The Detroit Red Wings head to Washington to take on the Capitals. Check out my preview and picks below.
Detroit Red Wings @ Washington Capitals
| Opening ML | Current ML | Spread | Total | |
| Detroit Red Wings | +180 | +170 | +1.5 (-130) | o6.0 (-120) |
| Washington Capitals | -210 | -200 | -1.5 (+110) | u6.0 (+100) |
The Detroit Red Wings have had a decent start for what’s supposed to be a rebuilding period for them. They currently sit in 3rd place in the Atlantic division with a 3-2-1 record. The Red Wings head to Washington to wrap up their three game road trip where they lost in Montreal 6-1, and won 6-3 in Chicago on Sunday.
While they have not confirmed their starting goalie, Alex Nedeljkovic is expected to get the nod in net. He was acquired from Carolina in a trade back in July but, hasn’t looked like the goalie he was last year. Nedeljkovic has a 1-1-1 record with a .897 SV% and a -0.1 GSAx. However, Thomas Greiss, their other goalie, has looked much better with a +1.2 GSAx and a 2-1 record. We’ll see who gets the start tonight.
The Red Wings offense has been one of the best in the league averaging 3.33 goals per game. Tyler Bertuzzi leads the team with nine points through the first five games, and is tied for second in goals in the NHL. Captain Dylan Larkin has also contributed offensively with seven points. The issue is that the Red Wings are allowing 3.5 goals per game which is 26th in the NHL.
The Washington Capitals are off to a hot start with a 4-0-2 record. Unsurprisingly, long time Captain Alex Ovechkin is leading the team in points, and the NHL in scoring. The Capitals are averaging 4.33 goals per game with the fourth best shooting percentage in the league. They also have been solid defensively anchored by Vitek Vanecek who has a +3.8 GSAx through four starts. Vanecek is expected to get the nod between the pipes tonight but, hasn’t been confirmed yet. They seem to be clicking on all cylinders early and are certainly a contender this year.
PICK: OVER 6.0 (-120)
These teams have some of the best offenses in the league so I’m expecting a high scoring affair. Each of these teams is averaging over 3 goals per game with no signs of slowing down based on their previous games. Both teams like to play fast which will only help the over. Washington is the superior team and given Detroit’s struggles in net, I think that can only aid the over here.
Best of luck, and as always you can find me on Twitter @GatorBetting and Instagram @Gator_Sports_Betting.
