Two of the highest-scoring teams come face to face tonight in what is set to be an exciting NHL matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs looking to pick up their 3rd win in a row and the Washington Capitals desperate to stop their losing streak on home ice.
They have gone 0-5 in their previous five and only won 2 of their previous 10 home games in the NHL.
Monday, February 28, 2022 – 07:30 PM EST at Capital One Arena
We said it in a previous article and we will say it again and again, it’s virtually impossible to win the NHL’s Stanley Cup when you’re constantly having to outscore your opponents (maybe Florida are the only exception in years to that). Toronto has been one of the best defensive teams with 2.8 allowed (10th best) but recent weeks have seen them go downhill rapidly with an average of 3.7 allowed per game.
Three 3rd period goals saw the Maple Leafs come away with a 10-7 win over Detroit, yes that’s an NFL-type score, there really were 17 goals scored in this contest. Mitch Marner eventually reaped the rewards here with 4 goals and 2 assists to end the game with the most points on the ice.
Although they beat the Wild 3-1 prior to this win, they allowed 15 goals in their previous 3 NHL games, which all resulted in losses. Essentially, they had one game where they put it together against a really strong Wild team, then reverted to old habits last time out. Will the Capitals be so forgiving?
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Washington's home form has seen them fall right off the cliff's edge and it really is a wonder how they are going to prepare themselves for a potential playoff run in this kind of form.
Luckily for the Capitals, forward T.J. Oshie is back in the line-up to help with their scoring woes as they have netted 3 goals per game across their previous 10. Oshie, having missed 14 games, made his return in their 2-1 loss to the Flyers last time out in which he scored Washington's only goal on the power play.
Alex Ovechkin started the season in amazing form having scored 19 goals in 23 games but his production rate has dropped dramatically with only 13 scored in his previous 29 games.
More good news for the Capitals is the return of goaltender Vitek Vanecek who missed the previous month due to injury, he most likely won’t start but to have him back in the rotation will be helpful.
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*Trends should never be your main source of information when it comes to making your betting picks, they are merely guidelines and mostly irrelevant information but nonetheless can be interesting to read.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Washington Capitals
Money Line: Washington has been made home dogs for this NHL tie at odds of +133 with BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review), the Capitals have a 6-7-2 record as underdogs this season. The Maple Leafs have been priced up at -125 to win what would be their 3rd win in six games at the Capital One Arena.
Total: At the time of writing the total line is currently sitting at 6.0 with the juice sitting at -122 on the over and +111 to take the under.
Puck Line: Toronto to cover the -1.5 PK line the NHL odds are currently +195, whilst the Capitals to cover the +1.5 line they is currently -225.
Both Auston Matthews and Ovechkin have combined for 68 goals this season and we see more to come in this NHL matchup as we are looking to lay some juice with this over 6.0 line, we believe we will see at least six goals in this one and at the very least we should get a push. Both teams combined are averaging 6.83 goals per game, we like our chances here.
Another contributing factor is both teams' very weak goaltender/defense as of late as they have allowed a combined average of 6.7 goals in their previous 10 games, and it helps that their previous 7 meetings have seen over 6.0 goals cash 4 times and a further 2 ended as a push with one loss.
If we were to take either team it would have to be the Maple Leafs but -130 is a chunk to lay on this team. Maybe a small play on the Leafs' team total over 3.5 goals at +110 is the best value bet here.
NHL Pick: Over 6.0 Goals (-122) at BetOnline
NHL Pick: Toronto Team Total Over 3.5 (+110) at Everygame (visit our Everygame Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.