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The Eastern Conference Semifinals matchup between the Metro Division rival Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals heads to Game 5 this Saturday night at the Verizon Center. The puck is set to drop at 7:15 p.m. (ET) and the game will be broadcast nationally on NBC.
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Pittsburgh at Washington Game Overview<br />
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Pittsburgh has been able to push its bitter rival to the brink of elimination with three victories in the first four games of this best-of-seven series. Wednesday’s 3-2 win as a +127 home underdog stayed UNDER the closing 5.5-goal line and it has now stayed UNDER in three of the four games against Washington. The Penguins will now have to go back on the road where they have gone 3-1 in four previous road games in this year’s playoffs.
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What made Wednesday’s Game 4 victory so impressive was the fact that Pittsburgh’s top scorer Sidney Crosby was sidelined with a concussion. His playing status for Saturday remains doubtful so in his absence the Penguins will need another strong effort from Evgeni Malkin (4 goals and 12 assists) and Phil Kessel (4 goals and 8 assists) as two of the team’s top point scorers this postseason. Center Jake Guentzel actually leads the team in goals with eight after giving Pittsburgh a 2-0 lead on Wednesday night with a goal early in the second period. Marc-Andre Fleury continues to get the start in goal and his postseason save percentage stands at .935.
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Washington has made an unfortunate habit of making early exits from the playoffs despite being the best team in the NHL during the regular season and it appears to be heading towards another one in this series. The Capitals only victory against Pittsburgh came on the road in Game 3 and they are 2-3 in five previous home playoff games this year. The total has stayed UNDER in five of their last six games overall.
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The spotlight this Saturday night at the Verizon Center will be squarely on the Capitals’ top goal scorer Alex Ovechkin. He led the team with 33 goals in the regular season and while he is tied for the lead in the postseason with four, he has been shut out the last three games. Nicklas Backstrom and TJ Oshie lead the team in total points with 10 apiece. Another key to keeping this series alive will be the play of goalie Braden Holtby, who has a 2.59 goals-against average in 10 postseason starts.
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Pittsburgh at Washington Game Betting Trends<br />
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The Penguins are 13-5 in their last 18 games following a win and they are 11-5 in their last 16 Saturday games. The total has gone OVER in six of their last eight road games.
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The Capitals have won eight of their last 11 games against a Metro Division opponent, but they now fall to 1-4 in their last five games in this round of the playoffs. The total has stayed UNDER in seven of their last nine home games.
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Head-to-head in this division tilt, the home team is 9-3 in the last 12 meetings and the total has gone OVER or ended as a PUSH in the last three meetings when the line closed at five goals.
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