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The Washington Capitals will look to secure a 2-0 series lead as they face the Florida Panthers in Game 2 in FLA Live Arena. It's time to continue our NHL odds series with a Capitals-Panthers prediction and pick.
The Capitals defeated the Panthers 4-2 in Game 1 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Tom Wilson started the scoring in the first period when he fired a laser past goalie Sergei Bobrovsky to make it 1-0 Capitals. Later, Sam Bennett capitalized with an equalizer, flinging a shot past Vitek Vanecek to tie the game. Next period, Claude Giroux slapped one home to give the Panthers the lead. It stayed that way until the third period.
Evgeni Kuznetsov tied the game on a pass from Alexander Ovechkin. Two minutes later, T.J. Oshie plucked the go-ahead goal off passes from Nicklas Backstrom and Dmitry Orlov to make it 3-2 Capitals. Lars Eller converted on an empty-net goal to seal the victory for the Capitals.
Vanecek finished with 30 saves on 32 shots for the Capitals, while Bobrovsky made 34 saves for the Panthers.
Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Capitals-Panthers NHL Playoffs odds:
NHL Playoffs Odds: Capitals-Panthers Odds
Capitals: +1.5 (-120)
Panthers: -1.5 (+100)
Over: 7 (+114)
Under: 7 (-140)
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Why The Capitals Could Cover The Spread
Washington has the playoff experience to pull off the series win. Additionally, they have not lost by more than a goal to the Panthers this season. Ovechkin continues to play at an elite level, and Backstrom still possesses the magic touch for generating scoring opportunities.
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The Caps outshot the Panthers 38-32. Also, Washington went 1 for 3 on the power play. Ovechkin had four shots on goal and four hits in Game 1, along with an assist. However, the Panthers dominated the Capitals in hits and won 53 percent of the faceoffs. Washington needs to hit more to dictate the outcome of the game. They were trailing Game 1 until the third period when they rallied. However, Florida will adjust and counter in Game 2, so a late comeback might not happen again.
The Capitals must also stay disciplined. Florida only had two power-play opportunities, and Washington held Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau in check. The Caps were efficient in blocking shots in front of Vanecek and not allowing the Panthers to fire endlessly. It could make a difference in determining if the Capitals go back to Washington with a 2-0 lead.
The Capitals will cover the spread if Ovechkin, Backstrom, and the talented top-six amplify the pressure on Florida's defense. Also, the Caps cover if Vanacek gives them another stellar effort while the defense blocks shots in front of him. If the Caps can stay disciplined, they will limit the power-play chances for Florida, preventing Barkov and Huberdeau from doing significant damage.
Why The Panthers Could Cover The Spread
Florida was the top team in the NHL and accomplished this by averaging 4.11 goals per game. It was the best mark in the league and showcased how lethal the Florida scorers were. Now, the Panthers need to find that scoring touch, and it starts with Barkov and Huberdeau.
Neither all-star did much of anything in Game 1. Huberdeau was on the ice for one of the goals but did not generate the chance to make it happen. Additionally, he finished with five shots on goal. Barkov flung three shots on net, with none of them getting past Vanecek. The Panthers cannot win this game without their two-headed monster scoring. Both played on the power-play units, which went 0 for 2 in Game 1. Additionally, Florida needs better defense in front of Bobrovsky. Aaron Ekblad returned to the lineup in Game 1 after a leg injury caused him to miss the rest of the regular season. Now, Ekblad has to lead the defense and prevent shots from getting to Bobrovsky.
The Panthers will cover the spread if they convert on their power-play chances. Florida ranked fifth in the NHL in power-play chances, so they must execute on the man-advantage. Also, they will succeed if Barkov and Huberdeau can play at the elite level they have played throughout their careers. The Panthers have to protect the net better in front of Bobrovsky to limit the damage and give themselves a better chance of winning Game 2.
Final Capitals-Panthers Game 2 Prediction & Pick
Florida needs to play its best game to win Game 2 and send the series back to D.C. tied. The Panthers understand that they cannot go down 2-0 in this series heading back to D.C. Expect the Panthers to come out fired up and ready to play. However, Florida has not covered the spread once against Washington this season. This game will go down to the wire.
Final Capitals-Panthers Game 2Prediction & Pick: Capitals +1.5 (-120)
