Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Washington Head to Head: Capitals Betting Preview

Penguins vs. Capitals head to head Preview: Pittsburgh has lost seven straight games to fall to 7th place in the Metropolitan Division, eight points behind the New Jersey Devils. It is fair to say that the Penguins have been the league’s biggest disappointment to their fans and to bettors. This season, Pittsburgh has lost 603 units behind their 4-8 start. That’s the worst mark in the NHL to date. Washington is 4-points ahead of the Penguins, but like Pittsburgh, has produced a losing bankroll (-258 units) for their backers.

Penguins Losing Streak Reaches Seven

The list of Tuesday’s NHL odds shows the Pittsburgh Penguins as a -120 road favorite after bettors pounded the Penguins’ opening even money number. It’s early in the season, but this Penguins vs. Capitals head to head match-up may be one at the end of the season that the loser wishes they won.

This past offseason the Penguins made a commitment to a core of players that seem like they’ve been there since the inception of the franchise. Both Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang were signed after it was thought that one or the other would have to go. Geno has five goals this season but Letang has yet to find the back of the net after pushing across 10 last year to go with his 58 assists.

Over the last four NHL seasons, the Penguins vs Capitals head to head tally shows Pittsburgh with a slight 8-7 advantage (+73 units) against the Capitals in the regular season.

Capitals Trying to Hang On to Past

Name the year and the Washington Capitals are in the mix as one of the top teams in the NHL rankings. As we watch Alexander Ovechkin chase 894, it has been apparent for quite some time that this isn’t the Capitals that won a Stanley Cup in 2018, since, Washington hasn’t been past the first round of the playoffs.

The Capital’s injury report shows that key players like Nicklas Backstrom (hip) are on the IR along with T.J. Oshie and Tom Wilson. In addition, John Carlson and Carl Hagelin are out indefinitely. The cracks are starting to show with the Capitals’ 50-46 record (-644 units) when you combine this season and last.

The postseason is where the Caps’ age shows the most with 18 losses in their last 26 playoff games (-886 units). Only three other teams have lost more money for bettors in the postseason (Nashville, Pittsburgh, and Calgary) in that span.

Bettors Pound Opening Number

You can bet on one sure winner, when the Penguins and Capitals go head to head it will be a match-up of two teams that don’t like each other. The Capitals aren’t the only ones hanging on to the past as the betting public is coming in heavy on the Penguins. This number opened with the Capitals a -120 home favorite. Within a few hours, the Penguins became the -120 favorite behind what is certainly professional money.

To conclude our preview, we’re going to side with the pros on this one, with the recommendation of the Penguins -120. Tristen Jarry (Pittsburgh) and Darcey Kuemper (Capitals) are the expected starters in net. One last word of caution, make sure the goaltenders are confirmed before placing your wager.

This movement may just indicate a strong opinion on the Pens but it also could mean that some might anticipate different goaltenders than the current probable. Check out first off at the morning skate to confirm.

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